Services Opportunities

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The ELCA offers service opportunities locally, nationally and internationally. Locally, potential volunteers can find meaningful volunteer opportunities in congregations, social ministry organizations and outdoor ministries and retreat centers. Nationally, ELCA volunteers:

• Help people recover from disasters (through Lutheran Disaster Response)
• Build or repair churches (through Mission Builders)
• Join Journeys Servant and Adventure Programs (through ELCA Outdoor Ministries' searchable database)
• Staff Holden Village (a Lutheran center for renewal in the Cascade Mountains)
• Build community (through Lutheran Volunteer Corps)
• Serve in inner cities (through Urban Servant Corps

If you have a desire to serve internationally, the ELCA has missionary assignments ranging from a few months to eight years. For this type of service, a discernment process is recommended. If after asking God for direction you feel called to this type of service, you can apply for Long-Term Service (4+ years), a 2-year Global Mission program, shorter term self-funded volunteer service, or volunteering through the Global Teach outreach program.

For details on volunteering through the ELCA, consult www.elca.org. Click on "Our Faith in Action," and then on "Service Opportunities." Select information on local, national or global opportunities.

Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod encourages its people to "get involved." Locally this could mean working in a congregation or volunteering for one the LCMS Recognized Service Organizations.

The LCMS also sends missionaries to "the ends of the world." Teachers, office workers, doctors, other medical professionals, truckers, etc. are invited to lend their expertise and God-given gifts to help others and to share God's love.

At any given time there are a variety of opportunities to serve through LCMS World Relief and Human Care. Often there are needs in response to disasters and recovery programs. Currently, for example, volunteers are still serving victims of Hurricane Katrina, Iowa flood victims, Pakistan flood victims, etc.

Retired persons of all kinds are encouraged to pray and inquire about how they might become a member of The 72—Partners on the Road Program (formerly known as Harvesters for Christ). These team members partner with congregations to train members in canvassing, witnessing and conducting Bible stuiding about reaching out to those who do not yet know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Teams serve for 3-4 weeks, and their expenses are paid by participating congregations.

Laborers for Christ combines church-related construction with spiritual renewal. Men and women work with congregations and other church-related organizatoions to build churches, schools, parish halls, retirement homes, camp facilities, etc.

For information on volunteer opportunities through LCMS, consult www.lcms.org. Click on "Get Involved." Then click on the mission opportunity that matches your gifts and interests.

Other Volunteer Opportunities

Want to enjoy God's creation and help maintain our national parks? Check out opportunities on www.volunteer.gov/gov.

Want to explore your interests in a different setting? You can match your gifts with a variety of needs through www.volunteermatch.com.

In your own community there are countless opportunities to serve. Almost all nonprofit organizations use volunteers: schools, hospitals, hospice facilities, libraries, theater groups, museums, human services agencies, political and civic organizations, arts organizations, etc.

Even if you are homebound or are a person with disabilities, there are service opportunities for you: Telephone visitations. Record-keeping. Telling, writing or recording Your Story. Befriending a child; serving as a foster-grandparent. Praying for others.

Can't find the volunteer organization that meets the needs you see? Find others who share your concern. To get started, consult www.Idealist.org.