• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sharon R Hoover

  • Home
  • Writing
    • New Book Release
    • Blog
    • Bookshelf
    • Publications
  • Speaking
  • Photos
  • About
    • For the Media
  • Contact

December 13, 2011

Ode to Volunteer Leaders

IMG_2014
(please read with joy and huge smile on your face …)

“Is Pam going?”

“Really??!!  Justin will be on retreat?!”

“Can I ride in Cathy’s car??!”

“I want to be in Joe’s group!!”

Pam, Justin, Cathy, and Joe are not students in our ministry. They are adult volunteer leaders. They are among the most amazing cadre of co-laborers with whom any paid staff member could ever hope to serve. I am deeply grateful for the volunteer staff in my church home. They sacrifice much. Their ministry testifies to the love they have for students and for our Lord Jesus.

I put them in the super-hero category of life.

They…

  • put hundreds of miles on their personal vehicles
  • use work’s vacation hours to be with students
  • absorb extra childcare costs to serve as short-term mission project leader
  • spend even more on kennel and petcare costs
  • dispense never-to-be-paid-back “loans” for students’ lunches, concert t-shirts, snacks on the drive home
  • lose countless hours of sleep on creaky, 2×4 bunkbeds with squeaky plastic-covered mattresses
  • stand patiently in line for the shower, a sink, or port-a-potty on retreats and mission projects
  • bend their knees in prayer over and over and over for students and families
  • post encouraging words on students’ facebook walls, “like” their photos, and retweet their tweets
  • hurt for the broken hearts and needs of students.

Our super-heros also have amazing families who share them with our student ministry. Their spouses and children and parents support their calling to spend evenings, weekends, holidays, and weeks with students. I know that setting up the meals, rides, and clean uniforms is an added load they bear. Yet they arrive at the mission project or retreat check-in with smiles on their faces and warm words for each student present!

Yes, indeed, Spiderman and his friends soar through our church building regularly.

Related posts:

No related posts.

Filed Under: Missions, Student Ministry, Travelers Tagged With: church

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. karenmcelaney says

    January 13, 2012 at 4:17 pm

    Sharon, you see in these people the same traits we see in you. Love you!

    • Sharon R Hoover says

      January 13, 2012 at 4:21 pm

      Hi Karen! Thank you for your very kind words! I am truly so blessed to be able to serve alongside all of these leaders. :-)

Footer

I'm passionate to support all who wrestle with challenges of living the mission of faith. Read More…

Grab a seat with us…

Stay In Touch

* indicates required

Archives

Recent Posts

  • Escape Spiritual Stagnation
  • Loving Others through Encouragement
  • Who then do we serve?
  • City Park Clean-up
  • Purpose or Role?
  • A New Missions Conversation

Copyright© 2023 · Brunch Pro Theme by Shay Bocks