September e-Newsletter from VIS

September 2026

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

Watching God at Work through His People!

Dear Friends,

One of my greatest joys is hearing stories of God at work through YOU as you lean into relationship with your neighbors and witness Christ's love in our community. Let me share a couple recent stories...

Rob & Jenny

Jenny* called a couple weeks ago. "Cori, you heard that my husband was in the hospital again," she started. "I wanted to let you know he passed last night." As I offered my condolences, Jenny started to cry. "Cori, I don't know how to get his body out of the hospital and we can't afford the funeral costs. What are we going to do?" I provided Jenny with some resources for families of veterans and started praying for direction as I called the volunteers serving Jenny to share the news. God was already at work!!

Rob was one of the volunteers I called. He stops by Jenny's home every two weeks to pull her garbage bin out to the back alley. When I shared the news with Rob, the line went quiet. He said, "Cori, you know I'm a funeral director, right?" WOW, God!! When I checked back in with Jenny the next week, she shared that Rob had arranged for the transportation of her husband's body to his funeral home and covered the cost of cremation while they waited for the veteran benefits to be dispersed. Thank you, God, for having plans in place in advance to work through your people in tangible ways!!

Mara & Lori

Rosemary was following up with volunteer Mara this week after she provided a ride for Lori.* "I had a great time with Lori yesterday," Mara shared. "We headed to the Meals on Wheels pantry and arrived before it opened. We took a 15 minute walk as we waited. It was a slow walk but full of conversation about her life and her daughter's struggles. Before I dropped her off at home, she asked me to pray with her for her daughter. It was a good morning for both of us!" Thank you Lord for using Mara to offer your compassion, a listening ear, and to lay Lori's burdens at the foot of your throne!

Thank you, friends, for serving as Jesus' hands and feet, sharing the love of our Savior one connection at a time! Want to learn how YOU can get connected with opportunities to witness Christ's love as you serve? Check out the Serve page of our website.

Serving Him Together,

Cori Scholtens

Executive Director

*names changed for privacy

Be Equipped to Serve

Reimagining Benevolence: 6-Week Learning Cohort

Are you in a role to help steward your church's benevolence fund? Join Volunteers In Service and Love INC, South Kent County for a 6-week learning cohort on Monday evenings in Oct-Nov to explore how to move our ministries and benevolence giving from transactional to transformational using Chalmers Center's "Helping Without Hurting in Benevolence Ministry" curriculum. CLICK HERE to register by Oct 1. (Mondays from 6:30-8pm starting October 5 at Calvary CRC- Wyoming)

Get Connected To Serve

With fall right around the corner and leaves getting ready to change, we still have VIS Friends waiting for help with summer yard work! Would you be willing to spend a couple hours serving a neighbor? (Check out some examples below.*) Volunteers In Service connects the church -God's people- with opportunities to share the love of Jesus and serve their neighbors. Click on a brown button below for a full list of opportunities to serve. Call our office (616-459-7500) or reply to this email to learn more.

Opportunities to Serve

Transportation Opportunities

FILL OUT THIS FORM to let us know how you'd like to get connected to serve!

Yard Work Projects

Yard Work Opportunities...

Bernadette in Kentwood: Rake last year's leaves.

Pat in NW GR: Weeding, raking, and trim overgrown areas.

Arlene in NW GR: Trim low branches on pine tree and weeding.

Ruth in SE GR: Clean the samara seeds off her deck and out of her gutters.

Deana in SW GR & Vickey in Cedar Springs: One time lawn mowing and trimming.

Diaconal Ministry Study in Classis GR South

Volunteers In Service is helping the Diaconal Ministries Committee (DMC) of Classis Grand Rapids South survey the diaconate in the Classis to:

Better understand the current state of diaconal ministries in the churches
Determine felt needs for additional training and support
Gather ideas for the future of the DMC

Classis GR South Deacons, have you scheduled your Listening Study visit with VIS yet? If not, email Cori at cscholtens@visgr.org or call 616-459-7500 x120 today!

You're Generosity Impacts Lives!

Thank You!

We are deeply grateful for the financial support you've given to the work of Volunteers In Service over the past 40 years!

God is at work everyday through the love and service of volunteers. Lives are impacted for Christ simply by volunteers being present, listening and praying for and with those they meet.

Your support makes these connections happen and we could not do this without you. Thank You!

"And now these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love.

But the greatest of these is love"

I Corinthians 13:13

As we close out 2026 we covet your prayers as we trust God's faithfulness in providing financially for the ministry! If you are interested in learning more about supporting Volunteers In Service contact Bernita Tuinenga at btuinenga@visgr.org. To God be the glory!

DONATE TODAY

40 Years of God at Work in Kent County

We invite you to watch our 40th Anniversary Video to hear how God's been at work through His people for 40 years in Kent County!

Partner with us in ministry! Would you consider making a special 40th Anniversary donation to further God's ministry? Use the Donate button below.

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