This past weekend F2W volunteers descended on Morningside Park in Anderson, SC.  While we are continuing to help with upkeep, this was F2W's second major work day for the park.  Volunteers came out and spent the day raking leaves, picking up trash and broken glass, mowing, weeding, clearing year’s worth of overgrowth, and cleaning out the park’s beautiful stream. Dirty jobs to say the least.  But one thing was missing.  Volunteers from the adjoining neighborhood!

The event was publicized.  The neighborhood knew; flyers went out, people were informed, yet no one came.  Well ok, two came!  So I was a little disappointed.  No scratch that, I was little mad!

While the volunteers stopped to eat a great lunch provide by the Morningside Association, I brought up my disappointment with one of the association leaders, JB.  “How can we get people involved?” I asked.  He replied, “I don’t know.  I too am frustrated. It’s like this all the time.  It seems no one around here wants to help with anything.  They simply want someone to come in and do it for them!”

Ok, I got really mad!  But then God reminded me, we Christians (as a majority) act the same way.  Oh come on now, be honest. You know it is true.  We want someone to come in and do the “work” for us. Jesus gave us the example, but then we say:  

“It is the pastor's job to bring others to Christ.” – So basically you are too scared to get out of your comfort zone and talk to them yourself.  Does this look like Jesus? NO!   He spoke...

“I gave $5 to the mission fund.” – Why do we pay some chick named Lottie to do OUR mission work (if you got that you are probably Baptist)?  Is this Jesus’ example?  I think not.  He went...

“I donated a bag of clothes to the shelter.” – Oh so you gave some clothes from 1972 that you never wear anyway to a group of people you don’t want to get too close to.  Doesn’t sound like Jesus to me.  He touched...

I don’t understand this condition so prevalent in our churches.  We simply pay someone to do the work we should be doing.  Don’t get me wrong, giving is good and Biblical (in fact this is the only way organizations like F2W can operate).  But James tells us our faith is dead if we are not serving.  Well?  Christ has called us to serve others....  To spread His Good News...  To help the poor...  To care for widows and orphans...  And personally, I have found that this cannot happen when Christians refuse to get out of their pews!

If you are a fellow Christian, its past time; let’s get up and go... Want to get more involved in serving others? Contact us today.

Chasing Him,

Ike

PS: Thanks to all the great volunteers from three different states that came out to help.  You are awesome!