Impact of Service
/An Invitation to Experience and Share Christ's Love
Editor’s Note: As she reflects on the interactions she has had with children from CFNA’s After School Tutoring program, staff member Amy Zeigler shares how service has a great, everlasting impact. The outpouring of love from staff has deeply resonated with children; in response, they are now living vessels for Christ’s kingdom. We can only praise God and ask that you, too, consider serving at CFNA for His greater purpose.
New clients walk into the Peace Center doors daily (in fact, last year we had 533 individuals served by CFNA staff and volunteers)! With each new face, new relationships are built as we work together to solve challenges. Jesus’s love is shared through each encounter, and sometimes, a once stranger becomes an integral part of our programs.
I have gotten to witness this over the last two years through our After School Tutoring program. One time, a student invited a refugee friend from school who was struggling with math. The two girls started coming together every week with the goal of “passing freshman math class.” A dedicated tutor, Mr. Albers, worked with them weekly to keep them afloat, and now has guided them through their sophomore and junior years of math.
Other tutors have assisted with job applications, seeking internships, and the occasional request for one or both of them to help us with translating for a newly arrived student. Additionally, they often offer to lead songs or prayer during worship.
The other day, I mentioned to a couple of girls about signing up to be a part of Concordia Kirkwood’s Night to Shine program that hosts a prom for people who have special needs. Immediately, both girls asked if they could come and be a part of the night. This did not come as a surprise – after all, there would be dancing, fancy clothes and the sheer excitement of having a night out. One of the girls, however, said something that resonated with me, “You are always bringing us along for events to enjoy ourselves; we would love to be the ones bringing joy to others.”
Immediately, the verse, “We love, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) came to mind. Isn’t this our calling, our way of life? We love our neighbors as ourselves because we have been deeply loved and showed what true patience, kindness, and selflessness looks like.
At the Peace Center, we strive to embody this kind of love to each of our neighbors for as long as we serve them. I pray that Christ’s love fills every fiber of the building, and as we develop together, it is what marks our connection with our neighbors.
So come, join us in sharing Jesus’s love – whether for a day, a season, or years. I promise you will make an impact, and be transformed by Christ’s love.
By Amy Zeigler
CFNA Community Engagement Facilitator
