Finding ways to make a difference in your community requires a heart of humility and service. It can be discouraging to look around and see overwhelming needs all around you. There are countless people needing assistance with food and shelter, and the spiritual needs of a lost world are evident in every aspect of society. The work of making a difference in our communities can seem daunting, and it can make one wonder if there is any hope for God’s light to shine.
Instead of hoping someone else will step up to make a difference, God has called us to be living proof of His love to a watching world in our communities, neighborhoods, and workplaces. He wants to use us to shine His light in a dark and hurting world. Jesus calls His followers to “make disciples of all nations” in Matthew 28:19, and that begins by reaching out to those who live on our street and sit in the cubicles next to us.
Developing Community Leaders
“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”— 1 Peter 4:10
God loves diversity, and He has gifted us each in unique ways. These gifts include teaching, leading, serving, and showing mercy (Romans 12:3-8). He has given us these gifts to advance His kingdom , and we can accomplish incredible things when we come together as the body of Christ and collectively use our abilities to serve our communities.
Not only has God given us spiritual gifts, but He has also placed us in our circumstances for a reason. The book of Esther in the Bible tells the account of an evil plot to kill the Jews, but God arranged for Esther to become queen so she could intervene to save the nation. Esther’s cousin Mordecai encouraged her to use her position to advance God’s kingdom.
- “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”—Esther 4:14
Just like Esther, we each have a sphere of influence God has given us “for such a time as this.” By stepping into leadership roles, we can show our communities the love of Christ.
God wants us to be the change we desire to see in the world. Do you mourn the loss of Christian values and leadership in local businesses and among elected officials? Perhaps God is calling you to get involved in the chamber of commerce or run for city council. Do you wish someone would provide more after-school activities for local teenagers? Maybe you are the one who could develop a program just for them. With creative thinking, the opportunities to make a difference in your community are wide-ranging.
How to Get Involved in the Community
You might feel you have little influence in your community and don’t have what it takes to become a leader. Maybe you are unsure of ways to help the community, or feel more comfortable retreating into your home. God has a plan to use you to make a difference in your community. Through your leadership and involvement, He can use you to advance His kingdom. There are many ways you can get involved and stretch your leadership skills:
- Serve with the Parent Teacher Association.
One way to bless neighborhood children is to serve with the PTA. The children will enjoy the activities you plan and the contributions you make to their school. Serving in this role gives you an opportunity to get to know school leadership and have important conversations about issues facing local education.
- Get involved with the school board.
After becoming experienced with the PTA, the next step could be attending school board meetings and becoming informed of happenings on a district level. From there, God might call you to serve on the school board. As a school board member, you can provide a perspective that will make a difference in the lives of children across your community.
- Volunteer with nonprofits.
Volunteering with nonprofit organizations across the country provides many ways to help the community. From helping mentor students to delivering meals to the homebound, every effort is a ministry opportunity.
- Keep an eye on city council activities.
Are you disheartened by the decisions of elected officials? Start by paying attention to the issues facing your city council and pray that God would shape your view on these issues. From there, God might call you to run for a position on the city council. Once you have some experience, there are many opportunities to serve in other elected positions.
Battling for the Community
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” –Ephesians 6:12
If you seek to serve God and make a difference in your community through public service, you will face many forms of opposition. While it might seem the attacks are coming from other people, the real enemy is Satan himself, who desperately wants to stop the advancement of God’s kingdom. We must enter community leadership expecting opposition. The keys to successfully enduring attacks are prayer, resting on the truth of God’s word, and remembering that God is more powerful than any adversary we face.
Making a difference in the community also requires a significant time investment. To serve wholeheartedly, you will likely have to sacrifice other activities and interests, and it will require the support of your entire family. Yet when God calls you to something, He works out the details to allow you to complete the work.
Loving Your Neighbors
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”—Matthew 5:16
God has called us to serve those around us, and our neighbors are always watching. We have incredible opportunities to shine God’s light into the lives of those living closest to us.
Jesus told the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 to illustrate this point. The story was about a man getting attacked, robbed, and left for dead along the road. Two men who were considered very religious, a priest and a Levite, saw the man in his distress but passed by without doing anything. Yet a Samaritan, who was considered an outcast by the Jews, stopped to help the injured man and made him comfortable at a local inn. The Samaritan even offered to pay for any additional needs the man would have. God calls us to do likewise.
You can start serving your neighbors in practical ways, including:
- Mowing lawns.
- Shoveling driveways.
- Raking leaves.
- Bringing meals.
- Engaging in intentional conversation.
- Throwing a neighborhood block party.
The possibilities to serve one’s neighbors don’t end there. Simply look around, and you will discover needs. Do you have a neighbor with cancer? Offer to drive them to their medical appointments. Is someone in the neighborhood expecting a baby? Throw them a baby shower. Does a stay-at-home mom need a few minutes for herself? Offer to watch her kids while she gets some alone time walking around the neighborhood.
The same applies to co-workers. You spend a significant amount of time with them, and they are watching how you live. Your co-workers see how you respond to situations and if you conduct yourself with integrity. You never know the depth of influence you can by praying and caring for them. Living a fulfilling life in Christ is rooted in being willing to serve sacrificially for others.
Start Living the Abundant Life
God calls us to be living proof of His love to a watching world, and that starts in our backyards. Making a difference in our communities and workplaces involves changing our mindset to intentionally look for ways to meet the needs around us. By looking for ways to help the community, you are demonstrating selfless sacrifice that reflects God’s heart for people.
We are called to live generously, and you can take your next step in generosity and service by signing up to get involved in the two-year A-Life discipleship journey.