21 Apr 4 reasons to do Hands on Community Day
In just a few short weeks, thousands of volunteers from across the Upstate will join together to serve their communities. As a church, we want the individuals and groups of our body to be key contributors to this community event.
It’s not put on by Grace Church; it wasn’t even our idea. But for us, it’s a priority. If Hands On Community Day isn’t already on your calendar, here are a few reasons why it should be:
1. We live here.
Whether you’ve only lived in the Upstate for a few months, or you’ve been here your whole life, this is your home. In Jeremiah 29, God commands the exiled Israelites to own the cause of their city, Babylon, in such a way that the city is made better by their presence. As the church, we want this to be true for Greenville.
2. Our neighbors live here.
When the religious leader asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”, Jesus’ answer was the parable of the good Samaritan. Our neighbors are those who are within our reach and who are in need. This loving of our neighbors takes on a variety of embodiments throughout our daily life. HOC Day is a once a year event that gives us one more opportunity to love those around us.
3. Organizations need love, too.
There are a multitude of nonprofit organizations in Greenville who invest their time and energy into empowering the individuals in our community each day. During HOC Day, we get to come alongside these groups and give back to them- providing the manpower to complete projects to make their facilities better. And, who knows? You may just end up coming back to serve with that organization throughout the rest of the year on you own.
4. Serving is humbling.
Let’s be honest, each of us needs a regular serving of humble pie. Giving of our time and energy to benefit others is an opportunity for us to humble ourselves. Jesus is described as One who “took the humble position of a slave…and humbled himself in obedience to God” (Philippians 2:7 & 8). When we spend our Saturday morning mulching flower beds for the good of another, we take one small step towards looking a little bit more like our Savior.
If you haven’t already, mark your calendar for May 2, and sign up yourself, your family, or your community group below.