David and I have been involved in giving our vacation time to volunteer in some form of ministry work since we were first married in 1989. Whether it was a week as a counselor at summer camp or organizing a mission trip over the Easter holiday weekend to the Navajo Reservation, or even traveling with a youth group on a bus for two weeks,volunteering has been a part of our lives and our lifestyle.
Each time we have served we have experienced God's presence, grown in our faith and found a place to use our spiritual gifts and talents for the work.
Our volunteer lives have also been a testimony to the exchange students who's lives we have touched. Volunteering our time extended from just a few weeks of vacation a year to hosting students from 3 to 11 months out of the year. During these years we not only learned about the world, the world of international teenagers and parenting beyond our own son but, we also learned about welcoming strangers, redefining our family and opening our lives to reach out to others.
So David and I are not surprised after all of this learning and training we hear God guiding us to begin serving with our lives through volunteer mission ministry work. Yes, we are being called to drop our nets and follow Him. (Matthew 4:18-22)
Teach with Your Life
(Summer Theme for Work Camp 2014)
“Get the word out. Teach all these things. And don’t let anyone put you down because you’re young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed – keep that dusted off and in use. Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don’t be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation.” 1 Timothy 4:11-16 (The Message)
