Work AT Church {31 Days: Day 9}

Yesterday I talked about the 5 values we chose for Asa’s dedication (and his life!). One of those was about the Body of Christ–loving God’s church. I know I’ve already talked about how important it is to go to church. And how important it is to serve WITH your kids. I want to take one more day to talk about what I feel is an important aspect of loving the Body of Christ: working AT church.

It is my natural bent to be a worker bee. I’m not the prayer warrior, I’m not the greeter/usher/hospitality kinda person. Tell me what needs to be picked up, where the chairs need to be moved and which position needs to be filled and I’m all over it. When I was a children’s pastor, I could walk into any of our rooms and in 2 seconds see if the trashcans were full, the papers were out of place or there weren’t encough volunteers in the room. I am good at keeping things running smoothly.

Now that I’m not on staff at a church, I still gravitate towards those jobs in church. Right now I work as a volunteer in the preschool department. I schedule and am in charge of the storytellers, worship leaders and back-ups for our large group environment. I’m also the storyteller in the 2 year old class.

Yeah, it makes for a long day. I get to church at 8:30 (if we can get ready on time) and don’t leave until 12:30. My kids go to 2 services, which means they hear the lesson twice. And if one of my volunteers doesn’t show up, I usually have to take their place and may miss the adult service that week.

So, why is that worth it to me?

1. I want my kids to be familiar with church. My best friend, Staci and I had parents that volunteered or worked at the church. We were there all the time. We even made up a song about our church and how “all the days of our life are spent here at this church…all we are good for is cleaning, created only to work. at. this. church.” Nice, huh? What can I say? We were 14 years old. But, I knew that church intimately. Walking in that building was like walking home. I want church to feel like home to my kids.

2. I want to support my authority. There are pastors and staff members who give their whole week to getting ready for church, preparing lessons, cutting out crafts for kids, planning special events and more. I want to make their job easier by showing up, filling in the spot and supporting them.

{some of my co-volunteers friends in the preschool department!}

3. God fills me up when I give. God’s kingdom is full of paradox. We die to live. We are first when we are last. We give to gain. I hear many people complaining they can’t work in the nursery or with the Middle Schoolers or in the parking lot because they need to be in the adult service. And while I totally agree you need to go to church. I also know that God will fill you up with his power and refreshment when you are giving to others. One of the main ways he does this is by the friendships I’ve made while working with others (see above picture)!

Working at church isn’t just a fill-in-the-blank spot. You’re not just a warm body doing something because you have to. You are giving to the body of Christ…rather, you are actively BEING a part of the Body (1 Corinthians 12:12-31)! And as you make that local church service work, you are allowing for visitors, the unchurched, non-Christians and those in dire need of a word from the Lord to receive.

You can be a sound tech, a nursery worker, an usher or a teacher. But every job is as important as the Pastor’s. You are facilitating people to hear and recieve from God’s Word. And you are setting an example for your kids to do the same!

So, I encourage you to get involved at your church. Ask, “What needs to be done?” or “Where is the greatest need?” and fill that spot. You will be blessed. You will be refreshed. Your kids will see it and long to do the same thing, too.