Last Sunday, we had our Volunteer Appreciation Day, where we had a chance to honor all of you who serve at LifeSpring. There is a saying in churches that it is common for 20% of people to do 80% of the work. This really doesn’t apply at LifeSpring, and we see that Sunday after Sunday. On a weekly basis, between our two sites, we have worship, tech, Kingdom Kids, speaking, refreshments by life groups, and clean up–at a minimum–and it’s all done by different people. This does not include all the prayer ministry, planning, prophetic, hospitality, leadership work, outreach, care, service, and other things that happen outside of Sunday! It’s such a blessing that we’re able to accomplish so much as a church and it’s only possible because of your faithfulness.
So, as much as it was Volunteer Appreciation Sunday, we recognize that you do so much more than simply volunteer at a church. Yes, technically you are a volunteer, as someone who serves an organization without receiving compensation. But in your actions, you are family. You take care of our kids like they are your own. You worship as unto the Lord. You prepare refreshments like you’re feeding your own family. You take care of admin and clean up like it’s your own household. You care for one another like a brother or sister. And there is no price we can put on that.
During our year of Patient Endurance, one of our last memory verses was from Romans 12:9-13. Verse 10 and 11 say,
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
The devotion to one another in love, the willingness to honor one another above yourselves–this is something we see on display week after week.
And we recognize that serving and especially leadership is not always easy. In serving, we often need to do things that we’d rather not do, or that we hope someone else will do. But you honor one another with your faithfulness. Your willingness to do what needs to be done demonstrates your devotion to the church and to one another in love. And best of all, you do it with zeal and spiritual fervor, as unto the Lord.
So LifeSpring, thank you for caring for your church family in the way of Romans 12. I’ll share a word that was given to me, but I think applies to us as a whole. Sometimes we think that the things we do are small. But these seemingly small things create a ripple effect in our history that impacts so many.