Recruiting Students to Serve, Search Continues in Haiti & Making Guests Feel Welcome

As a new school year approaches, many church leaders seek church members who can serve in the church. In a Lifeway Research study of Protestant churchgoers, 66% said they did not volunteer for a charity (ministry, church, or non-ministry) in the last year.

One church leader believes by expanding the pool of volunteers, churches may have more success in finding volunteers.

Aaron Summers believes Gen Z is ready to serve now. He writes, “Gen Z is capable of serving now. Churches recruiting students are finding great passion and energy.”

He says his research showed him Gen Z responds more positively when they are asked more personally.

“Gen Z is excited to serve and feels more spiritually satisfied when they are asked to serve,“ he writes.

Summers says churches should consider how they can create “on ramps” for people to serve in the church and offering training for those willing but possessing limited experience.

He says a great way to is to work together. He says in most churches there are six generations present but only two or three are serving. Summers encourages the older generation to look for ways to allow younger generations to serve with them with a specific intentions of graciously training them to serve.
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Officials in Haiti continue to search for a missing nurse and her young daughter. Alex Saindival, a nursery with a Christian ministry called El Roi, and her daughter were kidnapped in late July at gunpoint.

The ministry has not given an update on the status of the woman and child since August 3.

The U-S State Department advised Americans to leave the county in late July.
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Making guests feel welcome is important whether you’re in your home or heading into your favorite store. The local church is no exception. Devin Maddux says there are some specific things churches should be doing.

First, have greeters.

Second, train them. Don’t assume folks know what to say and how to best serve guests.
He says churches should clearly mark their entrances.

In an article at Baptist Press he offers ten suggestions for churches as they welcome these very important guests. You can read the full piece there.

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