Serve Day Testimonials - May 20th, 2008
Serve day is much more than a day of community service... For us it is a chance to communicate to our congregation that the call of Christ is a call to serve, to serve outside the walls of our church and in the communities where we live and work. It then allows us to begin to form partnerships with organizations who are already serving the community. For our church, missions is typically seen as overseas ministry, with serve day we begin to discover the mission at our doorsteps.
Jay Williams:: First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton
As a senior pastor Serve Day provides a diversity of opportunities for the individuals and families of my church to walk in a manner worthy of our Lord. It provides them ways to be salt and light in their communities. It blesses them in experiencing the beauty and wonder of the unity of the Body of Christ. It is a powerful example of what the Church is from God’s perspective – Christ followers from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities working together for Christ. It is truly a unique and rich experience. Is it important to serve Christ as One? I believe scripture is clear. Serve Day allows that to happen in a professional, fun and exciting way.
Mark McAnlis:: Highland Congregational [Serve Day Chair]
We are to live for the “other” – we are to be united as “one” in Christ! Live it! Do it! Serve Day is one way where this happens.
Mark McAnlis:: Highland Congregational [Serve Day Chair]
I get radically energized when I read statistics showing that the area our church finds itself located in is one of the worst in the US – the Inland Empire. This has caused a wonderful humility and openness in many of the pastors. God has been gracious to us in giving us a Mayor that has given a charge to the local church – “we need you!” Serve Day is a vehicle for churches and city government to work together to create change. And change we are seeing! Praise God! Hope exists! Serve Day is a massive conveyor belt of hope to individuals living in crime ridden housing areas, churches that know they should do something but don’t know how and pastors that know they have to do something to be authentically Christian. Serve Day is an imperative!
Mark McAnlis:: Highland Congregational [Serve Day Chair]
ServeDay has been key as we keep talking about our values. As we celebrate the city and our mandate to be ‘for it, rather than against it’, ServeDay works because after we sweat and paint and clean, our leadership team can remind the congregation of what it looks like. It has also been helpful to show what it looks like to work with other churches in the city, to remember that there are followers of Christ throughout the city.
Eric Marsh:: Grace Brethren of Long Beach
Serve Day is a necessary first step for both individuals and churches that want to ‘love their neighbor as themselves’, but don’t know where to get started.
Eric Marsh:: Grace Brethren of Long Beach
As a church who has participated with Serve Day for several years now, one of the most encouraging things is watching these relationships with local organizations deepen over the years. What began as a once-a-year kind of thing has evolved into a more friendly ‘see you next week.’ The beauty of Serve Day is most evident in the relationships it has helped us to foster.