Work

I was part of a meeting last week that was brainstorming for ways to raise funds for our midweek worship service/meal. The main attendees at this service are homeless or marginally homeless people. We feed between 125 to 150 people a week -- free of charge.

We are trying to design a fundraiser that will raise enough money to support the project for a year. We would like to involve the community in the effort since the meal is providing a service to the community and is helping to fight hunger.

Big fundraisers require a lot of work. That seemed to be an issue. Don't get me wrong -- we need to consider the amount of work, and the types of gifts which are necessary to "pull off" an event such as this. We need to have our eyes open.

I wonder, though, if someone had said the same thing when we started this program itself. "That will require a lot of work and many volunteers." It does. What it provides to those volunteers, though, is a niche. A place. An outlet for their gifts and skills. Does the "milk lady" think it's a lot of work? Probably - but she also knows she is doing the will of God, and it's hugely meaningful for her.

Should we not do a project God is calling us to do because it is going to be work? Or is it time to realize that we are a church, and many of our members are searching for ways to "at work for God." They (we) want those opportunities to be at service. Why would we not do a project because it could provide that side benefit?