By LaKeeyna Cooper, national coordinator of Young Adult Women’s Ministries
“to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12-13, NIV
The time is at hand to serve others through spiritual or physical acts. Service to others builds up the body of Christ and allows everyone to connect one to another through shared faith and love. There is no prerequisite needed in order to do service: All age levels are welcome. Everything from entry level to advanced skill sets are needed and all people that make up the body of Christ are invited to serve others by giving their time, talents, and gifts.
God has already equipped each individual with what they need to serve others. Some have the gift of compassion while others have the gift of leadership and organization. In order to effectively use the gifts that God has given you, it’s important that you allow yourself to be an instrument that God can use to bless others through your acts of service. When you allow yourself to be used by God, God is able to receive all the glory through your works of service.
As young adult women that are busy with school, careers, and families, it’s often challenging trying to figure out ways to serve others. However, the best part is that God has already provided you with what you need to assist others, building up of the kingdom through your labor and faithfulness. To serve God is to serve others such as your family, friends, and community. There is so much work to do that no one person can do it alone; therefore, we are all called to be servants.
In case you are still wondering how you can serve others, here are some simple ways for you to begin:
· To serve those in your church: Offer to teach Bible study or Sunday school; start a young adult women’s ministries (if there currently isn’t one); volunteer your time with senior citizens: offer to read to them or teach them how to use technology; offer to work in the nursery; start a Christian book club; volunteer to teach vacation Bible school; offer to write and lead prayers and devotionals that are focused on young adult women.
· To serve in the community: Volunteer at a local afterschool program and mentor a youth; start a community project that will help the neighborhood; volunteer to help collect supplies that are needed at the local women shelter; take up advocacy and raise awareness about issues that affect young adult women.
The time to serve is now. The prayer to seek God’s direction on how to serve is, “I give myself to you so that you can use me.”