It’s finally 2022! And it’s that time of year again when many people make New Year’s resolutions. Maybe one of yours is to get more involved at your local church, but you’re not sure how. It’s often hard to figure out how we can best serve our local church body. That might be because we tend to only notice our church’s most visible roles: pastor, deacon/elder, teacher, full-time missionary, etc. Not all of us feel like we would fit well into those roles. But there are a hundred other tiny things taking place behind the scenes to make a church run smoothly. Someone sets out the crackers and pours the juice into the little cups for communion. Someone buys tissues when they run out. Someone clears the snow out of the parking lot. Someone mops the bathroom floors. These people often don’t get a lot of attention or credit, but they’re serving God and the body of Christ too.
We all can and should contribute by doing whatever we can do, based on the talents and skills that God gave us to develop. If you’re looking for a way to get involved and serve, you can use this list to get ideas. This list isn’t exhaustive, and not everything will apply to every local church body, but it might help you identify the needs of your unique church.
If you’re hands-on…
- Plow snow
- Mow the grass
- Volunteer to tend outdoor plants/flower beds
- Organize a spring/fall cleaning day
- Offer to clean weekly/monthly
- Stay to wash dishes after fellowship meals
If you’re artistic…
- Ask if help is needed designing/printing bulletins
- Volunteer to decorate the church or arrange flowers
- Be a photographer for church events
If you’re musical…
- Ask to join the worship team to sing or play an instrument
- Perform a special music selection or offertory
If you’re a prayer warrior…
- Start a prayer chain or prayer group
- Set out a prayer box and pray for requests privately
If you’re a giver…
- Start a food pantry for local families in need
- Collect donated items for a local nonprofit or charity
- Send gifts to people who need encouragement
If you’re tech-savvy…
- Offer to help maintain or update the church website
- Help make sure the sound system and microphones work smoothly
- Run the projector during service
If you’re a writer…
- Contribute to your church’s blog
- Help manage/post on your church’s social media
- Take sermon notes for those who can’t be there during the service
If you’re highly organized…
- Offer to organize the kitchen, library, teaching materials, etc.
- Ask about opportunities to help with clerical tasks like finances or the church directory
If you’re a welcomer…
- Greet people at the entrance
- Be a friend and guide to first-time visitors
If you’re a teacher…
- Start a small group Bible study
- Teach Sunday school
- Mentor someone one-on-one
If you’re outgoing…
- Organize a service day or outreach
- Invite others to church
- Hand out tracts
If you love kids…
- Host a youth group
- Watch young kids during services as a nursery or children’s church volunteer
- Serve during a vacation Bible school
If you’re an encourager…
- Write notes to sick or struggling church members
- Thank your pastor, teachers, church leaders, etc. (they need it!)
Other ideas…
- Offer to drive people who have no way to get to church
- Serve coffee, tea, snacks, etc. between services
- Ask around about chores, tasks that church members or neighbors might need help with, such as shopping for groceries, raking leaves, driving to medical appointments, etc. (Remember, you can serve Jesus outside the church building too.)
Whatever your skills and talents, you can get involved and make a difference at your church. Finding your service area might take some creativity and some sleuthing, though. The non-glamorous jobs might be harder to identify. For example, I’m currently responsible for decorating and creating flower arrangements for different seasons. It’s something I love doing, but I would never have thought to ask about it. Our pastor’s wife came to me because she knew it would be something I’d enjoy. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have occurred to me to offer.
So, the first step is to think about your church’s specific needs, look for what needs to be done, and take stock of your particular talents, skills, and interests. Next, ask someone in charge how you can help or offer to take on a specific responsibility. Finally, stay humble. If someone is already serving in that capacity, don’t point out what a poor job they’re doing or argue that you could do it better. Instead, offer to help them. If they decline your help, look for another way to get involved. There are probably many ways you can serve at your local church—you only need to look!
If you’re already involved and serving, thank you! What you do is important, no matter how small it may seem. Be sure to look around for the other people helping the church function—from preaching to cleaning—and let them know you appreciate them.
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