As people of faith, we know that God has many facets of His character. Throughout His Word, we’ve come to know Him as One who places a high value on those created in His image. After all, He breathed His very breath into us (Gen. 2:7), separating us from animals and all of His other creations. His Word says we are created a little lower than the angels and crowned with glory and honor (Ps. 8:5).
We demonstrate our faith by being witnesses of His grace, by showing others through our actions that He lives in us and allowing Him to love them through us. We mirror hope to those who have none, and while it may begin with offering a drink to someone who thirsts or a meal to one who is hungry, often we’ll be asked to stretch ourselves and our faith and do something more.
Everyone has a gift to give, a talent to sow and every life matters to God. Whether we sow a word of kindness into the life of one who is hurting, offer a hand to hold during a time of confusion or a shoulder of comfort to cry on, it is a ministry we are able to share on His behalf. Whether we give ten percent of our finances or a tithe of our time, to God it is an offering of worship, and to the one who receives it, it can be a life boat during a storm. Who can argue that we live in one of the most prosperous countries in the world and yet there are many among us going without the most basic items that we take for granted. How can this be?
We have each been called to help in different ways. If you don’t know what your gifts and talents might be, there is an instrument available on our website called a Time & Talent Survey. It allows you to consider some of the various ways you might be able to use time or skills you have to help someone weekly, monthly or infrequently as a need may arise. We encourage you to complete the tool and review it – it may help you in identifying certain talents you might not have been aware of. After completing it, if you would like to learn about other volunteer opportunities within our community, please contact the Volunteer Center of Greensboro and let them direct you to some of our partner agencies. For less frequent opportunities, we will be planning a few major events once or twice a year and would welcome your participation. If you’d like to assist with a special event we may be planning, please contact us at timeandtalent@partnersendinghomelessness.org. Your gifts and talents could make all the difference in our efforts and, more importantly, in someone’s life. Others may have items you no longer use that would be of great value to someone else; you might consider making an in-kind donation of these items. Perhaps a scouting troop, study group, civic organization, office or other organization would be willing to host a housewarming for a newly housed individual or furnish a room in someone’s new apartment (a kitchen, bathroom, etc.). Some of you may be able to join together to form a HOPE Team.
As a member of a HOPE Team, you will have the opportunity to help people who have been overwhelmed by life’s issues come to see themselves as people of value and limitless possibilities. You can help remind them that their best days are in front of them and that by His grace, through your quiet witness, all things really are possible. By demonstrating patience and compassion, faithfulness and kindness – something they probably haven’t experienced in a long time, you have the opportunity to truly make a lasting impact in the life of another person.
In the end, it won’t matter what election coverage we watched on television, which teams played well or who we voted for on American Idol, will it? What will count when we stand before Him will be how many lives we touched, how many people saw Him reflected through us, how many we inspired…how many we imparted HOPE to. How will you answer?
Home Run for Homelessness | 5/16/2010 | 3:00 p.m.| NewBridge Bank Park more...
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Provider Coalition | 9/9/2010| 9:30 a.m -11:30 a.m.| Unitarian Universalist Church, 5603 Hilltop Road, Jamestown more...
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