The Journey Continues: Volunteering

My column this week is about volunteering. The Christmas season provided many opportunities to share one’s time, funds and talents.

"I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 (KJV)

Below encapsulates where I volunteered:

• I volunteered with Redwood Baptist Church for their December service at “Angel House” in Austin, the soup kitchen for Austin Baptist Family Chapel. Two-hundred-fifty meals are cooked and served by volunteers daily; it takes around 4 hours of time.

"For I was a hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in...” Matthew 25:35(KJV)

• Each month a volunteer mission of Redwood reaches out to the Baptist Children and Family Services in San Antonio. In December, with the help of the First Baptist Church men’s prayer group, I volunteered to assemble a 100 gifts bags containing a Gideon Pocket Bible, nativity stickers, a granola bar and candy.
• At Southside Community Center, I joined other volunteers to pray with and visit with the San Marcos homeless community who come for the evening meal.
• Each year I participate in the Salvation Army’s iconic Red Kettle Campaign by ringing the bell. People who donate know it is an investment in helping others; and they feel good about sharing their change or dollars. It also teaches children an important lesson.

"As every man hath received the gift, (even so) minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

• I volunteered to be a table host for the “Giving Hope Event 2019" at the San Marcos Activity Center. This local outreach was started in 2007 in San Marcos by Amy Yarbrough and a group of Christian women who wanted to share the Christmas season with under-resourced families. The purpose is to spread the gospel message and to show the true meaning of Christmas to the 90 families invited to share a meal and gifts.

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reasons for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 2:15(NIV)

Sponsoring churches include First Baptist Church on McCarthy Lane, Solid Rock Church, Calvary Baptist Church, Sinai Pentecostal Church and Promisedland Church.

• Two years ago, I wrote a column about the Sights and Sounds Bethlehem venue, but I had never volunteered there until this year. Upon reporting to the founder, Monte Bromiley, I was assigned to the role of a Wise Man. In wonderful costumes the Three Kings, along with a real camel, kept the interest of children and adults alike.

“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their presents and presented him with their gifts — of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” Matthew 2:11(NIV)

• I stopped in Houston to check on the troubled son of a friend from New Paltz, New York. I found him at the Hope Center in north Houston, a resource center for the homeless. I thank God that I could tell his dad that he was safe. Two stories the homeless son told me deserves retelling: First, he had pictures on his cell phone of large piles of food that generous people gave him on Thanksgiving Day as he stood “flying his sign.” Second, he was pushing a grocery basket from the local food bank to his campsite, two miles, that he had to travel on the side of the highway where there were no sidewalks. A Harris County Patrol car followed him with flashers engaged to insure safe passage all the way to his campsite.

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done (it) unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done (it) unto me.” Matthew 25:40(KJV)

When God created Adam and Eve, he also created the words, “yes” and “no.” Be blessed by saying “yes” to volunteering when you can.