Ways to Help Others in Your Church and Community
These ideas are designed to help a Christian Life Resources’ (CLR) Affiliate (chapter or congregational branch) do ministry in their area. These are also ideas that can be carried out by anyone who loves serving God and serving others. They cover the 3 disciplines of teaching, training, and doing.
“Teaching”
Sharing information in a way that people grow in their knowledge of a topic.
“Training”
Equipping people to do something with what they have learned, whether as a peer counselor or as a one-on-one friendship witness.
“Doing”
Taking the concept of “love” one step further. It means committing to the well-being of others, often at the sacrifice of personal time and resources.
We do all of this because of God’s commission to love others and to share his message of love in Christ. That makes whatever we do a part of a bridge-building process. We understand the way we approach people involves either building a bridge or a wall. A Christian Life Resources affiliate is interested in teaching people current developments in the areas of life and family issues from the perspective of God’s Word, training others to: 1) become competent and credible witnesses to God’s Word involving those topics; and, 2) carry out activities to build bridges in demonstrating love and talk about Jesus and the eternal life that he brought.
TEACHING
“Teaching” involves sharing information in a way that people grow in their knowledge of a topic. We are sharing some suggested ways to teach to get you started with some ideas.
Life/Family Bible Classes
The Life Celebration Materials section on our website has a large selection of life and family Bible class material focusing on issues from a Biblical perspective.
Christian Life Resources Website and Emails for Source Information
The CLR email services and searches on the Christian Life Resources website can provide a wide assortment of information that can be shared with a congregation or a group of congregations.
Dispensing of Information
Using the CLR resources described above, an Affiliate can provide information to a constituency via email, bulletin blurbs, newsletter articles, video monitor displays, and bulletin boards.
Sponsorship of a Congregational Subscription to Clearly Caring Magazine
CLR publishes a quarterly magazine entitled, Clearly Caring. You can view PDF versions of past issues to determine if it is a resource that could benefit your entire congregation. Then contact the national office of CLR to see what it takes to order a drop shipment. If there is a cost, it would be very minimal, but it might possibly be a free resource ready for you to share. Consider packaging each issue with a separate insert publicizing the resource as a free service of the local Affiliate.
Presentations
A CLR Affiliate may wish to present information on life and family issues to students at the school and/or before various groups in the congregation, and even offer to help students of the congregation research topics for presentations in their secular schools.
Sponsorship of a Retreat or Event
Consider hosting an area CLR retreat or sponsoring an event whereby the CLR National Convention would be live streamed or other resources might be live streamed or rebroadcast to a group.
Life Celebration Weekend
Conduct a Life Celebration Weekend that centers around the worship service and Bible class period. CLR offers numerous resources to help a congregation plan a Life Celebration event. The Affiliate can carry some of the load in the planning. It could include handing out roses (a symbol of life), books, or booklets; serving as ushers for a special service; providing the treats for a Bible class; or, hosting an event related to the observance.
“Change for Life” Baby Bottle Campaign
Change lives by filling a “Change for Life” baby bottle with coins and checks to help New Beginnings – A Home for Mothers. Or ask your church to participate in this life-changing effort to benefit the work of these ministries of hope. More details can be found on the New Beginnings website here.
Media Additions to the Church Library
Donate life and family issues materials (books, videos, etc.) to your church library.
TRAINING
“Training” involves equipping people to do something with what they have learned, whether as a peer counselor or as a one-on-one friendship witness.
Training-Oriented Written Instructions
Provide instructions to help members of the congregation(s) understand how to make a “bridge-building” productive post on social media, compose a constructive and informative letter-to-the-editor, or create signage, posters, billboards, etc. that communicates both truth and compassion.
Training-Oriented Witness Instructions
Consider attending witness training workshops at a convention or special training sessions to learn and practice skills to speak the truth in love, ways to rightly understand and respond to arguments, and ways to present the truth in a thought-provoking and constructive manner.
DOING
“Doing” involves the highest level of involvement. It means taking the concept of “love” one step further. It means committing to the well-being of others, often at the sacrifice of personal time and resources.
Serve as a Support Network for Others
As a Christian Life Resources Branch, first identify those within your congregation(s) needing some type of support. Ask Branch members to identify those in their neighborhoods, workplace, and social circles. Compile a list. Then act on those needs. Here are some suggested acts of service to choose from:
- Volunteer to Watch a Single Parent’s Children
- Consider a Play Date
- Donate Unused or Gently-Used Meditations Devotionals to Donate to WELS Prison Ministry (Conditions Apply)
- Invite the Family for a Visit
- Recommend a Mechanic When There is Car Trouble
- Become a Friend to a Lonely Neighbor or Shut-In
- Write a Note or Send a Card
- Provide a Ride
- Promote CLR Resources (Medical Directive, Website, Podcast, Etc.)
- Organize, Sponsor, or Donate to a Blood Drive
- Assist to Resolve a Computer Problem
- Volunteer to Cut the Lawn or Shovel Snow
- Loan Your Tools or Power Equipment to Neighbors
- Serve as a Job Search Character Reference
- Check In with a Senior
- Water a Neighbor’s Plants
- Take Walks Together
- Share a Book
- Start a Support Group
- Offer Free Tutoring for Children
- Offer to Pick Up the Mail for Those Going Out of Town
- Offer to Watch Pets for Those Going Out of Town
- Host a Yard Sale with the Neighborhood
- Give a Gas or Grocery Card to a Struggling Family
- Volunteer to Run an Errand
- Take a Meal to Those Going Through Hardships
- Adopt a Grandparent at a Assisted Care Facility Who Often Doesn’t Get Visits
- Collect Care Package Items to Send to Military Personnel
- Conduct a Coat Drive for the Needy
- Conduct a Food Drive for a Local Community Pantry
- Donate Needed Items to a Local Shelter
- Donate Items from New Beginnings’ Wish List
- Offer Emotional Support
- Participate in Meals on Wheels
- Support Community Diaper Drives
- Conduct a Free Car Wash
- Mow an Elderly or Struggling Neighbor’s Lawn
- Shovel Snow for Someone in Need
- Invite Someone to Share the Holidays Together
- Gift Your Newspaper or Magazines
- Thank a Service Worker
- Offer Your Specialty Services for Free (i.e. Computer Technician, Lawyer, Teacher, Etc.)
- Pray for Someone in Need
- Start a Fundraiser for CLR or New Beginnings
- Pick Up a Friend for Church
- Provide a Treat for Bible Class
- Volunteer at a CLR-Affiliated Pregnancy Care Center
- Assist the CLR National Office in Conducting Conventions/Retreats/Conferences
- Order a Grief Support Package from Thrivent Financial for Bereaved Families Suffering from Miscarriage, Stillbirth, or Loss of a Newborn
- Make Bereaved Families Aware of Thrivent Grants Available to Help during the Healing Process Following Miscarriage, Stillbirth, or Loss of a Newborn
- Give a Christian Book or Similar Gift to Parents of a Newly-Baptized Baby, Such as a First Book of Bible Stories
- Give a Gift Certificate or Card to a Grocery Store, Gas Station for Someone Struggling with Financial Issues
- Provide the CLR Booklet, “Where Are They Now?” as a Resource for Those Who Have Lost a Loved One
- Take the Time to Listen
Support Network for the Aging and Disabled
As a CLR Affiliate, first identify those within your congregation(s) needing some type of support. Ask Affiliate members to identify those who need assistant in their neighborhoods, workplace, and social circles. Compile a list. Then act on those needs. Here are some suggested acts of service to choose from:
- Learn the County Resources Available for the Aging and Disabled
- Participate in Meals on Wheels
- Run Errands for Shut-Ins
- Help Those Challenged with Technology
- Help with Shut-Ins’ Household Chores
- Fix a Meal
- Look for Recreational Breaks, Relief Time for Caregivers
- Look for Recreational Outings for Shut-ins
- Coordinate with the “Jesus CARES” Program
- Support Community Diaper Drives
- Collect Food, Clothing, or Toiletry Essentials for the Homeless
- Fundraise for CLR/New Beginnings
- Volunteer at a Local Assisted Living or Independent Living Facility