I've searched MSDAOL high and low and this is the only forum that comes closest to being appropriate for this topic. It won't go in any of the Sabbath School Forums. Here's my question.

Has anyone here been, or is, in charge of Community Services for their local SDA church? What is your church doing with it? I have opened my mouth and taken on Community Services in my local church this year, but I need to find a new direction for it. The lady who had operated it for years is a friend and I have been discussing it with her. I'm gathering all the information I can, as I have never worked with Community Services before, though I've been interested.

In the past they have been involved in many aspects of typical community services--clothes and food distribution, helping burned out families,etc. At present there are enough other agencies in town to handle all this that we don't need to be involved, which is fine with me. Today there is often restrictions put in place by working with other agencies that prevents a lot of witnessing.

I am considering going into the health and temperance ministries area, because I enjoy doing cooking schools. However outside of vegetarian cooking, the local hospital system is doing stop smoking, stress clinics, and probably even parenting classes. So that closes several avenues. I know because Pat, retiring leader, planned a stop smoking clinic last year, and no one came! Yes, it was well advertised.

Besides vegetarian cooking schools, I have also thought of Bible marking classes, and Daniel & Revelation seminars. Does anyone have any suggestions of what else I might consider doing? Please keep in mind that I am working with a nearly dead church, very few people, Community Services is self-supporting (by providing the meat analogs at 10% over cost), and all the typical avenues commonly associated with Community Services are already covered by someone else.

I'm waiting for your suggestions.
________________________
Even so come, Lord Jesus
Linda

[This message has been edited by Linda Sutton (edited December 30, 2000).]

Hi Linda,

I used to be in Community services in my church when I was in Texas.

My problem was always that I would make friends with the people involved who needed help, because Sister White said thats what Jesus did and that this is the perfect avenue for then giving people our Bible materials. When I always wanted to do that, and the people even WANTED me to give them materials, the Church would not allow me to. They'd say "This is Community Services and we are just supposed to help with food and clothes and not do anything Biblical with people".

I used to get so upset with that attitude!

But anyway I cant think of anything you are looking for right off the bat, the the book "Welfare Ministry" comes to mind. If I remember right, it is a compilation of Sister White's writings on doing community services stuff. I just thought I'd tell you that and if you wanted, you could look in there to see if you could get any ideas.

I know this hasnt been much help
...but if I remember right, she talked in there about small groups going to give food and clothing, etc and then having Bible studies with the people that you helped, in the form of small groups.

Claudia

Our local church operates a Community Services Center which gives out food, clothing, small appliances, and furniture.

We also provide seminars and give out Bible literature and other helpful literature.

We are also compiling a list of those interested in Bible studies.

Can you imagine Jesus saying that He will not provide spiritual food to those he gives physical food to! I can't! It seems to me that the church Claudia described needs to get its reason for ministry straightened out.

_____________________________________________
"For God so loved Daryl Fawcett that He gave His only
Begotten Son that....."

Daryl

There is a liturature rack at the Community Services Room door which will now be my responsibility to keep filled.

BTW, it is one of the revolving racks with the clear vinyl holders. Many of them have torn, leaving some of the spaces unusable for literature. Does anyone have any ideas how it might be repaired?

Because of other local organizations that are involved in giving out food, clothes, etc., that is not really an option for me. The assistant and myself would be the only ones who would be doing anything, and neither one of us can do it alone. What I need are ideas that will work with a small group of people, one or two, that will reach lots of people, not cost much, and doesn't overlap what others are already doing.

Thanks, Claudia, I will get out my Welfare Ministry and look at it. I do know what reading a description of the Community Services Leader, that health areas are an option that I am going to be doing in some manner.

________________________
Even so come, Lord Jesus
Linda

[This message has been edited by Linda Sutton (edited January 02, 2001).]

There was a book put out by the SDA church concerning a Telephone ministry that I used to have. It seemed pretty interesting.

Our Community Service Center that we, the Fredericton SDA Church, owns and operates, gives out food, clothing, etc., as I posted previously, and also has a literature rack.

We have a few who have indicated an interest in receiving Bible Studies.

_________________________
It is more blessed to give
than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

Daryl

I just sent an e-mail to a retired Pastor friend of mine.
He has a son that is a pastor in Kansas.
They have a very unique health ministry going on there, and it may be what you need.
As soon as I hear back, I'll let you know.

------------------
What is popular is not always right.
What is right is not always popular.

Thank you Gerry, I look forward to hearing about it.

------------------
________________________
Even so come, Lord Jesus
Linda

We also provide health seminars such as cooking school and stop smoking program which Lorelei and I are preparing for right now on an Indian Reservation.

__________________________
In His Love, Mercy & Grace

Daryl

Hello Linda

Our church has had a van ministry for years. We do it all. Food. Clothes. Literature. Prayer.

We go downtown every Sunday to feed the street people, because all the other churches are having their church on that day.

It might be an idea for you to look into what needs you could fill in for on Sundays in your area?

We have between 2 - 300 people come for food on a given day! Guys like me will pray with the odd person, and/or give them literature.

------------------
Soul winning is soul loving.
see 1 Thes.5:14-15).

Your brother in Christ

David T. Battler