GUEST BLOGGER – STEPHEN PAPPAS

Hi!

My name is Stephen Pappas, and I am the volunteer coordinator at Remedy Church.  Four and a half weeks ago I got married to my beautiful wife, Nicki! I knew there would be a lot of work to be done, but I had no idea how much. There were so many people who helped us with different things to make our day special. Nicki and I were very humbled by the generosity and joy that motivated people to serve! I’ve often said it, and it is very true, that we could not have had such a beautiful day without everyone’s help! We saw the body of Christ come together and serve; how beautiful!

You are probably asking yourself, “So, what does that have to do with volunteering at Remedy?” Well, let me share with you some ways that you can plug in and serve at Remedy. The purpose of volunteering at Remedy Church is to glorify Jesus and exalt Him as we serve the church with joy. As a church plant that rents and shares its meeting space, there is a lot to do to prepare for the weekly service and then to set the things back up to the way the others need the building. The building is not magically set up, the information table is not already arranged, the children’s area is not suddenly ready to be invaded by children; there are many people who volunteer each week to set up before the service and breakdown afterwards. The volunteers help Pastor Phud and the band focus on how God wants to work in and through them that day, rather than being distracted by the other necessary jobs. So, it is no small, meaningless task, but rather an awesome way to be used by God to serve His people!

We currently have five different volunteer teams that are assigned to a certain week of the month. We could always use more help, and the more people we have, the more flexible we can be with how we coordinate the volunteers. You may feel like you do not have anything to offer because you can’t play guitar or sing, or create really cool art, but if you can set out a chair, put up a curtain, set out a pen, or talk to people, then you can serve! As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:18-20, “But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.” Earlier in the chapter he says we are given gifts “of the Spirit for the common good,” and then that we are empowered by the Spirit to use these gifts (12:7, 11). So, just as our physical bodies are one body with many parts, and each part has its unique and necessary role for the body to function properly, so the Body of Christ is one Body and has many parts, and we need each part for it to function as God designed it to function.

I want to challenge you to think about how God has gifted you, and to use your gifts to serve Christ with joy, by serving His Body! I would very much appreciate the opportunity to talk with you and answer any questions you may have and serve alongside you!

I leave you with these words that Jesus spoke after He washed His disciples’ feet, “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:15).

Much Love in Christ,

Stephen