Keep The Faith magazine - Britain's leading publication about Black faith

Rachel K Brown shares how we can learn new skills, impact our community, be a blessing, and touch the world for God - by volunteering 

Time is a valuable commodity and it would almost seem that 24 hours in the day is insufficient to carry out our daily tasks.  However, regardless of our tight schedules, I believe most of us would like to make a real significant difference in the lives of others, and ‘give something back’, but may not know how to. Volunteering is one way of doing so, and is an effective way of doing something for someone else, without an expectation of remuneration.

The Proverbs 31 woman was a wife and mother; she had a profitable business, and lived a fruitful life.  She also helped those less fortunate than herself.  “She extends her hand to the poor…she reaches out her hand to the needy” (Proverbs 31:20).

Today in Britain, there are 22 million volunteers working in various charities, churches and organisations, and in February 2011 the Government unveiled new plans to massively expand volunteering and training opportunities for the unemployed. This included getting organisations, such as The Prince’s Trust and Job Centre Plus offices to signpost jobseekers to opportunities to volunteer in their area.

Volunteering can be particularly helpful for out-of-work young people, as they can gain skills, experience and training which could lead to paid employment.
For me, personally, having been at home raising four children over the past 11 years, I ‘lost contact’ with the outside world, and found that much of the confidence I had as a single woman with a career had dwindled.  I recently made a decision to organise my time in a more fruitful manner, and see what I could do to not only help others by volunteering, but also to build my confidence and brush up on my skills as a way back into paid employment.
Church and Volunteering

I grew up in a Black Pentecostal church, and can remember when we ‘volunteered’ (we didn’t know any different) and used our God-given skills within the Church for the benefit of those who attended. There are some churches that still maintain this ethos, but there are some assemblies where people expect to be paid for their skills and services, ie. playing the music or cleaning the church, as additional income.

I do understand that for those who work tirelessly and endlessly for little or no appreciation, a financial reward can sometimes compensate for this, but I believe this can take away the sense of community, responsibility and belonging that can be experienced when we can freely give back to others what God has freely given to us, and work together for the benefit of the whole body of Christ (Matthew 10:8).

There are many church organisations and church charities that already have volunteering as part of the service they offer to their members and to the wider community. This can be in the form of supporting the elderly and disabled; visiting the sick; arranging for shopping to be done and for meals to be cooked for the housebound and those who are suffering from different infirmities; supporting single parents; inspiring the youth through mentor-programmes; running youth clubs.  The list is endless.

I remember being privileged to restart a youth club at the church I was attending.  The club served as a bridge where church youth could bring their friends into a Christian environment. This was a great way of evangelising in a more indirect and relaxed way.

I had a team of great committed volunteers, who had daytime jobs and families, but gave their time twice a month to help keep it running smoothly; donated equipment; bought and sold refreshments, and so much more.

I heard a story about a young boy who was by a roadside, attempting to flag down a car and get a driver to stop, but no one did.  As a last resort, the boy picked up a rock, and as a man drove by fast in his Jaguar, threw the rock, which hit the car. In a fury, the man stopped his car, got out and said to the boy, “What on earth do you think you are doing?” The boy replied, “Please, sir, my father is lying here dying, and I needed someone to stop and help”.

Sometimes our lives can be as busy that Jaguar, driving fast through our day, and we can often miss those that are by the roadside of life needing our help. Sharing our time volunteering may be a sacrifice for many of us, but it doesn’t have to mean donating a lot of our time - often an hour or two a week can be sufficient to give someone the help they require.  

I encourage each individual/church assembly to be proactive in identifying the needs within and without their walls, and then create ways to meet them. This will help show the genuine love of Christ to those in need, as well as to the lost and destitute and, as a result, bring hope into their lives and expand the Kingdom of God.

As the Bible states, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9).
Rachel K Brown is the author of ‘What Is Hanging On Your Branch?’ For more details visit www.yadahpraise.com