How can I help people? Should I look for a church to work with?

[DanielB]

I have recently been(for months) really wanting to make my life more about serving others(and not about devoting all my time to myself like I have been doing) but I am wondering what the best way of doing that is. Well, it doesn't have to be "THE BEST" way because I don't want to procrastinate waiting for perfect opportunity when I can be doing something. I try to have an "all or something" mentality instead of an "all or nothing" mentality(catchy, isn't it?  :winkgrin:)

Here is some relevant information... I have decided(in the past) to waste much of my life on entertainment and so I have not developed many(if any) skills that I could think would be very useful in volunteering. I don't have any special skills or education to offer. On the other hand, my whole days are basically free time(I don't have a job) and I am willing and able to work nights(I actually like nights better but I can certainly work in the day). I have a good attitude and I am a very conscientious worker. I am pretty awkward in interactions with people outside of my family(I am sure I will get used to it after getting out of the house some but it probably wouldn't be good to volunteer for a position that requires great social skills). I am very cooperative and I am forgiving and seriously doubt I will get in any hostility with anyone.

I have had trouble searching the internet for opportunities I am passionate about(rather than volunteering to sweep floors at an art exhibit or something :winkgrin:) but that doesn't require skills or education that I lack. My current plan is to get a job at a grocery store if I can so that I can devote most of the income to others. I am currently living with my mom and being supported by her. The plan is to use some of the money to pay for my living expenses and almost all the rest to go to some good cause. I was wanting to be a volunteer anyway(not that I have some aversion to being paid but that is not my main motivation). I decided that if I can't find volunteer opportunity that fits, I could just find a paying job and donate the money(either personally or through a charity or both) so I would basically be a volunteer despite working for a business. :) I don't think my mom really minds paying my living expenses or living in the house(and I think she would rather support me doing more good than she would like it if I started paying my own living expenses) so it really comes down to whether I could do more good with the money or the time.

Should I look for churches that might have some volunteering opportunities(helping people)?

[sheila]

  work and make your own living expenses..then..if you are able help others.  a man who does not provide

  for his own household is worse than a man with no faith.  my  :2c:

[WhiteWings]

(wo)man you have no faith in man.  :punish:


Daniel. Helping can come in so many ways. Not all require money and/or fancy education.
Lots of elderly people are lonely. So you could visit them for a chat. That's all. Just chat. For people with a great social life it means nothing but for the lonely it can be a gift from heaven.
:2c:

[marie glen]

Amen! :thumbsup:

..and yes, if you're so inclined, to work with a church, who knows?

Most important of all.. stay in the Lord.. and in His Word, so you can bear much fruit! Not just fruit as in works.. but as in character. So our Lord will shine through you. How's that saying go? we are to the world, a letter from the Lord.. And if we abide in Him and also in His Word we have an answer should someone ask..
   :gsmile:

[Dandelion]

I don't know much about you, Daniel, but I will offer these suggestions.

Pray about everything.

Philippians 4:5 - 7

5Let your gentleness be obvious to everyone. The Lord is near. 6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus....

Help your family, whenever possible.

8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Timothy 5:8


Everyone is your neighbor.

Luke 10:25-37New Living Translation (NLT)

The Most Important Commandment
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: "Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?"

26 Jesus replied, "What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?"

27 The man answered, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"[a]

28 "Right!" Jesus told him. "Do this and you will live!"

29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Parable of the Good Samaritan
30 Jesus replied with a story: "A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.

31 "By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

33 "Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins,[c] telling him, 'Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I'll pay you the next time I'm here.'

36 "Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?" Jesus asked.

37 The man replied, "The one who showed him mercy."

Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same."



Be blessed to be a blessing!
My  :2c:

D.

[WhiteWings]

Daniel I want to add two things:

1] It's no sin to have a job that pays (very) well. It just means you can give more. It also means you can support yourself when you mother went to heaven.

2] Be aware that many volunteer jobs steal jobs from other people. If you, for example, sweep floors in an hospital they fire the people who do that as a paid job. I've seen such things quite often. It's a growing trend of replacing paid workers with volunteers

[DanielB]

Thanks for the input.
I found some volunteer opportunities. My mom is helping me get a job but she might not be able to for like three weeks so I will do volunteer work until then(and probably once I get a job too).

[Patinak]

DanielB,

I've noticed a common thread in all of your posts: LOVE

I think you have a good heart, I'm glad you're here!

[eaglesway]

 :iagree:

[eaglesway]

I participate in a food distribution effort. It is not "Christian", but it is the best in my area. I play music in some recovery programs that are marginally "Christian", but these are the places where God has opened doors for me to serve. I would love it if all my efforts were in sync with a church or a group of churches, but it isn t that way for me. But I know that the Lord receives from our hands the offerings we give out of a pure heart, not because of the "affiliation", but because wherever we are serving Him by helping others, He sees in secret, and treasures our sacrifice.

[Cocoon]

Sometimes it is better to first know how to help than to just start helping.  Children can teach you this lesson.  Lol

Sometimes God gives you lots of down time to spend it in His word.  There is nothing shameful in devoting yourself to some serious Bible study and if this  time is available to you that is where I would volunteer my time.  The Spirit will use that time to confirm to your path and He is able to equip and qualify you for whatever He calls you to do but first you must know the will of God to prove the will of God. 

Wait for Him to open the door.  Be a servant in simple things.  Clean up. If a job is provided, get to work.  Mend things that are broken and if you don't know how, there are great tutorial out there. Always offer first.  Never assume someone wants your help.  Love simply by living simply. 

[DanielB]

I forgot about this post. Here is an update.

I have been volunteering at a local food bank(Gleaners https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gleaners+Food+Bank+of+Indiana+-+Corporate+Office/@39.7089653,-86.262641,16.85z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x2540561eed510293!4b1!8m2!3d39.7106015!4d-86.2609974 ). I have went probably 4-6 times already(typically for three hours) and have signed up to volunteer there every wednesday and thursday. I actually like it(I thought it would be boring). I ended up just looking on google maps and scrolling around and clicking on nearby places and found it(about a mile away). I unload boxes of food onto a table(generally bread), make sure there is a variety to choose from, and tell people how much they are allowed to get.

It has already helped me in being less awkward and nervous around strangers, to speak up, to have more exercise, and to do something good with my time. I definitely recommend giving it a try if there is a food bank near you(you can look on google maps and search "food bank" or "food pantry" and there will likely be one if you live in or near a city). It (or similar work) is especially good if you want to overcome social anxiety/nervousness around people because I am interacting with probably over a hundred(maybe two or three hundred) people a day but I know that people are not going to misinterpret any of my awkwardness or anything because they just want some food. I feel very refreshed afterwards.

I spent a bunch of time procrastinating and waiting for the perfect volunteering opportunity when I could have been volunteering at the food bank! I wouldn't say I am regretful(at least not in a beat myself up kind of way) but I am glad I found it and stopped waiting around for the perfect opportunity(which I likely would not have found)

I still need to find more volunteering and some paying work if i can(if not, I will just have to work buying and selling stuff at home live my parents and my brother have) since I want to work for more than 6-8 hours a week. :)

[GodIsLove]

Sounds like you are on a good path :)

[Cardinal]

I forgot about this post. Here is an update.

I have been volunteering at a local food bank(Gleaners https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gleaners+Food+Bank+of+Indiana+-+Corporate+Office/@39.7089653,-86.262641,16.85z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x2540561eed510293!4b1!8m2!3d39.7106015!4d-86.2609974 ). I have went probably 4-6 times already(typically for three hours) and have signed up to volunteer there every wednesday and thursday. I actually like it(I thought it would be boring). I ended up just looking on google maps and scrolling around and clicking on nearby places and found it(about a mile away). I unload boxes of food onto a table(generally bread), make sure there is a variety to choose from, and tell people how much they are allowed to get.

It has already helped me in being less awkward and nervous around strangers, to speak up, to have more exercise, and to do something good with my time. I definitely recommend giving it a try if there is a food bank near you(you can look on google maps and search "food bank" or "food pantry" and there will likely be one if you live in or near a city). It (or similar work) is especially good if you want to overcome social anxiety/nervousness around people because I am interacting with probably over a hundred(maybe two or three hundred) people a day but I know that people are not going to misinterpret any of my awkwardness or anything because they just want some food. I feel very refreshed afterwards.

I spent a bunch of time procrastinating and waiting for the perfect volunteering opportunity when I could have been volunteering at the food bank! I wouldn't say I am regretful(at least not in a beat myself up kind of way) but I am glad I found it and stopped waiting around for the perfect opportunity(which I likely would not have found)

I still need to find more volunteering and some paying work if i can(if not, I will just have to work buying and selling stuff at home live my parents and my brother have) since I want to work for more than 6-8 hours a week. :)

Thought I had heard that name before! Hello, fellow Hoosier! What a heart He has given you already! I would only say two things to you...

1) stay in the Word so you ready to give out, instant in season and out, and....

2) what is the passion He's put within you? what makes you WANT to get out of bed in the morning? Have you found it yet? If not, keep praying and asking Him to lead you and He will show you where He wants you.

And if you ever want to meet for coffee, friendship and to share  the things of the Lord, there's a little old lady (maybe 2) in your neck of the woods (me), that is willing. Blessings...

[DanielB]

I have no idea what specifically to do with my life Cardinal. I would ideally want some kind of job where I can help a lot of people(or be a lot of help to some). I know that having a good attitude, being a good coworker, and being good to customers and people in general can have a very good effect but something that involves helping people with some important need and getting paid for it seems like a great job to me. That probably doesn't narrow things down but I am not picky and I am sure I will have a better idea of my options as I discover, develop, or acquire skills from volunteering or some normal job. I don't think something like what I do at the food pantry would ever get boring even though the work itself isn't very interesting or challenging(it is the people that make it enjoyable).

I certainly wouldn't mind meeting you. :) And if you know anyone else that could use some company or if you or a friend could use some help(with any simple work) or want to do something charitable with me, feel free to ask(I won't consider it rude or anything). I have mostly gotten comfortable with social interactions but I am not a very experienced conversationalist(since I have been so reclusive until recently). I am eager to get out of the house more often since at the moment I am only getting out of the house for about 6-7 hours a week at Gleaners and bike rides to Kroger when I need groceries and that is pretty much it.

[marie glen]

I think if the Lord has put the desire in your heart, He will open a door! :thumbsup:

..for me, it was the internet, as what's in my heart is a zeal to pass on and communicate truth, because truth sets free, and blesses.. I would love to be a speaker/ lecturer (of the Word) and I have the strong conviction of love. Like you I don't get out a lot.. though I seem to have lots of friends and acquaintances, and do have folks my husband and I go camping with twice a year and we host a sort of large re-unuon at our place once a year, multi generational.. the conviction I have is love.. to love all. Even at the grocery store.. to have love in the heart, able to smile at.. accept.. encourage people.. All want to be accepted.. acknowledged.. though there are other (many) times when I avoid all eye contact, especially as a woman - I guess trying to live close to Him will make us love.. smile.. accept and encourage and when the Spirit opens the space to share via words.. to be able to do so with grace / love and simplicity / conviction.. same with charity..

   :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[DanielB]

Thanks for the replies.

Here is an update. I apparently have been pretty much guaranteed a job at Kroger once a position opens up(maybe a few weeks). I don't want to be too idle until then and I decided I am going to try to be an "Elder Helper" too http://www.elderhelpers.org/ and see how that works out.

[eaglesway]

This looks like a very worthy arena for service. How has it worked out?

[DanielB]

The elder helpers thing turned out to be a money making scam or at least inefficient. They were asking volunteers and the elderly to pay. There are organizations that don't charge and I am still interested in doing this with a better organization.

I need to recover from an illness first though. I took some cold medicine the other night but I woke up(mostly) confused(seemingly paradoxical thoughts running through my head), frustrated, afraid, and feeling faint but unable to go back to sleep so I don't want to take it again(at least not a night).

[CHB]

What about a nursing home? You could visit the people there, talk to them, encourage them. I go once a week and sing to them. The people there are really hunger for fellowship.

CHB