“But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.”
1 Samuel 12:24
Wouldn’t you agree that there’s nothing more satisfying than feeling as though you’re making a difference? That is, you have something of value to add to this world that makes an impact on others.
Unfortunately, many people simply feel they don’t have much to offer. Maybe you’re one of them. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
The good news is that you have been uniquely crafted and gifted by God for His purpose in this world. Scripture calls this being “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). When you embrace your gifts and begin to see outside yourself and to God’s greater purpose, a wonderful life of fruitfulness and fulfillment is most likely to ensue.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to emulate Him, and one of the best ways we can do that is to love and serve others. Despite His deity, Jesus clearly states, “[I] did not come to be served but to serve, and to give [my] life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). We are called to follow suit.
Maybe you’re asking, “How do I do that?” If you’ve not identified your unique gifts or don’t quite know where to put them into play, we’re here to help. Here at Sunnybrook, we use the S.H.A.P.E. acronym to help people understand how and where God might be calling you to serve.
We are convinced that your:
Spiritual gifts
Heart
Abilities
Personality and
Experiences
all collectively work together to give insight into God’s calling on your life. We just happen to have an online spiritual gifts assessment that can help you not only identify your spiritual gifts but also examine:
- the motivated direction of your heart
- your abilities
- your personality type
- your experiences
We’ve seen time and again that some of the most painful experiences one can endure, can often end up being a place God redeems for the most astonishing ministry. Many of the ministries we currently have at Sunnybrook have been started by someone who knew and experienced a “dark night of the soul.” After they emerged with the comfort and help of Christ, they began to, in turn, help others who were having a similar experience. Ministries such as:
- DivorceCare
- Griefshare
- Celebrate Recovery
- Bereaved Mothers
- Widows Walking Together
- Correctional Ministry
- Sexual Assault
- Cancer Care
So why not dive in and discover your unique S.H.A.P.E.? Then schedule a one-on-one consultation to discuss all the possibilities where you can make a significant difference. After completing the assessment, you’ll be contacted via email for an opportunity to unpack it with one of our staff.
Or, if you already feel you have a grasp on your unique gifts and abilities and would like to serve at Sunnybrook Community Church or in the Siouxland community, check out our “How Can I Serve” catalog here to find all the available opportunities. If you are outside the Siouxland area and would like help navigating ways to serve in your community, you can connect with our assessment coordinator after completing the spiritual gifts assessment.
Remember this, you are an important part of the work that God is calling the church to. Scripture describes the church as “the body of Christ,” and as part of the body, your gifts are needed. The apostle Paul exhorts believers at the church in Corinth: “… All of you together are the one body of Christ and each of you is a separate and necessary part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27 TLB). When each of us does “our part” we function as a healthy body. But when some do not, it affects the whole body. Large or small, your contributions are significant.
Perhaps you’ve heard the well-known story of the Starfish:
A young boy was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up during a terrible storm. When he came to each starfish, he would pick it up and throw it back into the ocean. People watched him with amusement.
He had been doing this for some time when a man approached him and said, “Young man, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. You can’t even begin to make a difference!”
The boy seemed crushed and deflated. But after a few moments, he bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he looked up at the man and replied, “Made a difference for that one.”
May your acts of service make a difference for the one.
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can all do small things with great love.”
-Mother Teresa
Cover photo by Danny Bligh
© Copyright 2024. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New international Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.