Are people more likely to serve others in a small group or on their own?

[James Nored]

I am a big proponent of people being a light to the world in their individual, daily lives. One of the reasons for this is that people spend so much of their time out on their own. If we take people's daily lives out of the missional sphere, we have made the majority of their lives secular and missionless. And the fact is, that some people truly do have work travel schedules that make consistent participation in group activities and official church ministries very difficult.

 

But much of the time, people need encouragement from other Christians and leadership to serve others, particularly in reaching out to people or in situations that are outside of their comfort zone. 

 

Eric Swanson and Rick Rusaw, authors of The Externally Focused Quest, write: "What we've found is that as much as we'd love for every individual to be living out his or her Ephesians 2:10 calling, it is service with our friends that is the critical path to get there. We've discovered that most people are more likely to do something they don't really enjoy doing (cooking for the homeless, after-school mentoring, handing out Snuggies to the elderly) with people they like being with than they are to discover that place of individual service by themselves." p. 146-47.

 

I have found this to be true as well. One of our small group recently went and served a meal at a daycare center that takes in a number of homeless children. I doubt that individually, any of us would have done this, but together we did this and had a great time doing it. People often serve better with others, and when Christians serve together, people can also witness the love of the Christian community--which is very attractive to outsiders. So if you are trying to get people to, say, mentor kids at a school, don't have them go alone. They'll probably never go or soon drop out. Instead, have them go with at least one other Christian. They will enjoy it more, find friendship while on mission, and serve longer.

 

Do you think most people serve better individually or as a group? 

[James Nored]

Kenneth, you give great examples here of both serving individually and with other Christians. When you sing at retirement facilities, you not only can impact the older people there, but also the workers. And have a great time with the Christians you go with. And you can be a tremendous light to those 4700 employees at Toyota. 

I love you heart and passion for reaching out to people! Thanks for sharing.

[Kenneth Ray Rayborn]

I agree with the concept of serving with other Christian brethren. I know personally that it helps to have someone to help encourage each other and "bounce ideas" off of. I like having someone to pray with me and have them start or continue the prayer after we have finished our part of the prayer. Didn't Jesus send His disciples out in groups? I have been having a burning desire to do something to feed the hungry, homeless or just not having an adequate income to feed their families and themselves. I would like to accomplish this with other of my brethren. I love to go to to the Senior Citizens retirement facilities with our daughters congregation. We go out after our Sunday morning services as a group. We sing, let them know we care and love them with the love of Christ and then one of us gives an inspirational talk . It fills my heart with such joy and satisfaction to be a part of such a group! As an individual, I do personal mission work during my shift at Toyota. My goal and prayer is to start winning my team members to Christ and then as a group to continue to grow and work together as a team. I pray daily for this! We have 4700 people working at the plant and I know any person I teach and win to Christ will be able to reach other team members that they know! We as groups or individually need the prayers and encouragement of other Christians. God can encourage us by/through using another brother to be there with a shoulder to lean on when we get discouraged. It is a big "vineyard" out there and we need all the groups of workers & individuals we can get to keep on keeping on! Find out what works for you and JUST DO IT! Souls are being lost EVERYDAY to Satan!