Hey 5 Point, this is Ann Durham, Guest Blogger for Dean today.

What is a Volunteer?

The dictionary describes a Volunteer as: a person who willingly offers oneself for a service or undertaking without pay

As a verb: willing to offer, give or bestow of oneself or ones services.

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

People work 5 to 6 days a week, 8, 10 or 12 hours a day and go home at the end of the day with no real sense of satisfaction or accomplishment whatsoever. Have you had days like that? That’s not to say jobs aren’t important, they are needed to put food on the table and pay the bills. Some people truly enjoy their jobs and are energized by them each and every day, but even they are willing to admit that it doesn’t satisfy that deeper craving they have to want to do something that has real meaning, something that REALLY matters.

Imagine for a moment, getting up in the morning, looking in the mirror and saying to yourself, “Wow, I get to go do something incredible today!”, or telling people at the end of the day, “You can’t believe what amazing things I got to do today!” Many 5 Point Volunteers do this on a regular basis by simply serving others, doing (Ephesians 2:10) the Good Works that God prepared in advance for us to do. By Volunteering, they experience the incredible opportunity of fulfilling God’s Great Commission by helping tell others about Jesus in a Sunday service or outreach program. They are fulfilling the second Greatest Commandment, to love others as they would themselves, by giving back a part of the time, talent and skills that God gave them, to a person in need or to simply be blessed by giving to others.

I am so very proud to serve alongside the 5 Point Volunteers that get “IT”. They are committed, fired up, willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. They serve through thick and thin, even when tired, sick or after working a public job all day long. They get “IT”. They’re willing to serve not just the vision of 5 Point (To Reach and Teach Others about the Love of Jesus) but for the joy and satisfaction of serving Jesus Christ himself. You can see it in their eyes, hear it in their voices, they are finding their “Sweet Spot” and serving the way God prepared them to do. They are finding their purpose in life. They are taking their eyes off of themselves and are sacrificially offering themselves up to serve others in love……..To all the “I get it” Volunteers - You Are Absolutely Amazing!!!! You inspire me.

For those that see IT in our Volunteers and want that feeling of purpose and satisfaction they get, step up to the plate and serve sacrificially as they do and as Jesus did for you. You can get “IT” at 5 Point, just ask for it. I challenge you to find IT, your Purpose, your “Sweet Spot”, if not at 5 Point, at your church or an outreach in your community.