[Faith-Talk] More on Serving in Church and Related Issues

[Ericka]

It seems like I’ve been absent lately, but I’ve just been busy and reading without responding.

Doug, I really like your story. Thank you for sharing it and Andrew. I hope you think about the story.

A lot of good things have happened in my life just because I just showed up in volunteered.


Ericka Nelson
K E9DYN
Proud general class him license owner

> On Nov 8, 2025, at 5:21 PM, Doug Lee via Faith-Talk <faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I would add one general community participation tip: Let them see what you can do until they believe what you say you can do.
> 
> One example I recall, which I have written about somewhere but not in a few years, was an office moving effort. I wanted to help move stuff between truck and office. I figured I would need both hands, so I decided to learn the way very well and then stop using my cane so I could carry more.
> 
> First I just walked and talked with movers a bit, then I showed up at the truck bed and extended my hands. Someone in the truck handed me a small sack. I was momentarily taken aback that this person would consider a little tiny sack all I could carry, but I just turned around with it and took it where it needed to go, then came back.
> 
> More things started to get handed to me, increasing in size as I proved able to handle them. I soon found myself falling neatly into the continual stream of movers with armloads of things on one side of the path, and empty-handed coming back. I never asked permission to do anything; I just showed up, took what was given me, and did the best I could with it until more was given.
> 
> I have heard the saying, "Clean the room you're in, then God will show you the next one." This saying came to mind as I wrote this just now. Many will doubt our abilities if they have had no experience with us before. Let them doubt, but find ways to let them see. It's a quiet but effective way to become an active member.
> 
> On Sat, Nov 08, 2025 at 05:07:14PM -0600, Linda Mentink via Faith-Talk wrote:
> Good afternoon All,
> 
> Here's something else to think about. Most church members do not serve where they are seen. Andrew, maybe you could be on the prayer chain. If there isn't one, ask if one can be started. Even if there isn't a prayer chain, you can be a prayer warrior. The Lord needs those just as much, if not more, than He needs greeters, choir members, deacons, etc.
> 
> As blind people, many of us concentrate so much on wanting to be involved, that we sometimes push our way in where God doesn't want us, where He hasn't given us gifts. It's best to be humble and wait on God, to be content. If leaders don't want you to serve, maybe ask the reason, or if there's another place you can fill.
> 
> It's easy to be proud, and expect people to notice us. Rather than concentrating on what people don't let us do in the foreground, find something we can do in the background. If we work behind the scenes, maybe we'll be asked to serve where we are seen.
> 
> I didn't explain this very well, but I hope this will help some who struggle to find their niche in the church.
> 
> Blessings,
> 
> Linda
> 
> --
> Doug Lee                 dgl at dlee.org                http://www.dlee.org
> "The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit
> of it. You have to catch up with it yourself." --Benjamin Franklin
> 
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