May 2026

Empowering Christians to join Christ's work in their community for the purpose of building God's kingdom.

SAVE THE DATE!

Wednesday, August 5 at 6pm

Volunteers In Service is celebrating it's 40th Birthday! We hope you'll join us for a casual picnic celebration at Calvary CRC in Wyoming for a time of celebration and praise as we thank God for 40 years of His faithfulness! More details coming soon...

Be Ready to Tell Everyone!

"Always be ready to tell everyone who asks you why you believe as you do. Be gentle as you speak and show respect." 1 Peter 3:15b

Ron Rodenhouse, a long time supporter of Volunteers In Service, recently shared this VIS memory:

"As a newly elected deacon in 1986 at Ivanrest CRC, I was inundated with requests from organizations seeking help. We were led to get involved with Volunteers In Service (VIS) and were asked to help a young family with a roof that was leaking. The father had been diagnosed with leukemia. Upon closer inspection, a new roof was needed! After an announcement in our church's newsletter, God blessed us with a donation of all the shingles needed and 12 volunteers!

We worked hard and by 2pm we were finished! After everyone had left but myself, another elder, and the owner, we sat down to look at all we had accomplished on that Saturday. The owner said with tears in his eyes, 'I don't understand why 12 total strangers would give up a beautiful spring day to shingle a roof for someone they don't even know.' I'll never forget that question," said Ron, "but I knew the answer and shared it with him. 'Because of God's love for us, we love others.' The home owner started talking with our pastor and eventually accepted Jesus as his Savior before he passed. His father-in-law was also baptized and became a believer. Praise God!"

For 40 years, Volunteers In Service has been connecting the church with opportunities to serve their neighbors. WHY? To share the love of Jesus with our community!

Did you know that 72% of the community members VIS connected churches with over the past 5 years reported no church affiliation?

Friends, the harvest is plentiful right here in our own neighborhoods! God is already at work turning hearts back to Himself. He invites us, His church, to build relationships with our neighbors and share His love and grace as we serve so our community might meet Jesus through us! Thank you, Ron, for not only serving as the hands and feet of Jesus but being ready to share the "why" you serve when the opportunity arose!

Serving Him Together,

Cori Scholtens

Executive Director

Built on Faith for 40 Years -

Carried Forward by YOU!

Join the 40/40 Challenge - Make an Ongoing Impact! We humbly invite you to become one of 40 monthly partners committing to give $40/month to VIS. Your monthly gift will carry forward the HOPE of Jesus for generations to come as the people of God serve in Christ's name through Volunteers In Service! "Your faithfulness continues from generation to generation."

Psalm 119:90a

MAKE AN ONGOING IMPACT

VIS Memory from 1986

"I remember well the first time I met Lori (founding director of VIS) to talk about her dream of starting a new ministry. I was the Director of Access of West Michigan and that conversation led to many years of a wonderful partnership. Access and VIS teamed up many times for trainings, Project Zero, and cross-referrals. Lori and I enjoyed a wonderful friendship as co-laborers in ministry. Warm congratulations to VIS for 40 years of blessing our community!"

- Marsha DeHollander

Will you share your VIS story? Help us collect 40 years of VIS memories and stories of God's faithfulness! CLICK HERE

VIS is looking for a Summer Intern

Do you know a college student who loves Jesus, is studying social work, nonprofit leadership, ministry, or a related field, and would love a meaningful combination of faith-centered service, professional skill-building, leadership development and real-world nonprofit experience this summer? This is a paid 8-10 week internship between June 1-Aug 15 for 3 days/week. Email Cori your resume if interested at cscholtens@visgr.org

Click for: VIS Summer Intern Job Description

Opportunities to Serve: Friendly Visits

Help decrease loneliness and isolation in Kent County by offering a friendly visit in-person or over the phone. Reply to this email or call VIS at 616-459-7500 for more information. Click on one of the brown buttons below for a full list of opportunities to serve.

We invite you to shower one of our neighbors with God's love through a visit! The folks below are ASKING for a church volunteer to reach out to them in love! Will you visit with...

Joanne in Byron Center (91 yrs old)
Cici in Comstock Park (49 yrs old and wheelchair bound)
Julie or Karen in Kentwood (both 76 yrs old)
Judy (80 yrs old) or Jean (90 yrs old) in NE GR
Jason in Rockford (50 yrs old and disabled)
Sandy in Sparta (78 yrs old)
Mitzy or Flora in SE GR (both 72 yrs old)

Click on a brown button below for a full list of opportunities to serve.

Opportunities to Serve

Transportation Opportunities

Partnering in Kingdom Work

Thank you to the following churches...who partnered with Volunteers In Service to get connected with opportunities to serve their neighbors through Group Service Projects this spring:

West Cannon Baptist Church - March 28
inSpirit Church - April 16 & May 2
River Rock Church - April 25
Westview CRC - May 2
Berkley Hills Church - May 3
Ada Bible's Bella Vista Campus - May 16

"River Rock Church blew my mind!" Sharon explained to a VIS staff member over the phone. "The 3 youth, 3 ladies, and 4-5 men that showed up at our house served and served and served! From raking 2 acres of our lawn, cutting up fallen branches, pulling up old shrubs, planting flowers and veggies and then hauling everything away (4 trailer loads), we felt overwhelmingly loved! The young people even brought me flowers. Our neighbors were so impressed they brought over cold beverages for the River Rock crew and then pitched in with the raking. Thank you, Volunteers In Service, for connecting us with River Rock Church!"

We'd love the opportunity to connect YOUR church group with opportunities to shower the love of Jesus on your neighbors as you serve. Email Debbie today to learn more: dbjones@visgr.org

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