August 2025

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

YOU WERE CREATED TO SERVE!

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

If we haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet, my name is Cori Scholtens. I stepped into the role of Executive Director at Volunteers In Service (VIS) in January. I've always had a passion for serving! Whether locally or abroad, serving for the purpose of sharing Jesus' love is at the core of who God created me to be! I am thankful to serve alongside an amazing team at VIS, each member also created by God to serve.

In fact, YOU were created to serve! You see, God is already at work in our community redeeming people back to Himself. We, as the people of God, are created to join Him there, serving as His hands and feet in our neighborhoods. We are created to touch others with God's love as we lean into relationships and serve! "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works..." not to earn salvation, but as an expression of gratitude for the "...grace by which we have been saved, through faith!" (Ephesians 2:10, 8) We were created to serve!

I saw this first hand in July as I checked in with a group of youth from Ivanrest Church serving at Sandy's house. Sandy has been a VIS Friend since 2012. For over a decade, VIS has been connecting the people of God with opportunities to serve Sandy so she can stay in her home. As the group wrapped their arms around Sandy in prayer, you could feel God's presence right there in her driveway. These youth were created to serve! They are God's handiwork. They were created in Christ Jesus to do good works and love on Sandy like Jesus does!

Will you join us? Let's serve together, joining Christ already at work as we "do the good works which God prepared in advance for us to do!" Get connected and serve with us today as we witness Christ's love and build God's kingdom.

Thank You Ada Bible Church!

You were created to serve!

Thank you for using your gifts to pour out God's love all over Grand Rapids this summer as you served and touched lives in the name of Christ!

GET CONNECTED TO SERVE

Get Connected to Serve

VIS has a constantly changing list of opportunities to serve in our local community! Join Christ's work and SERVE as a volunteer of your church, witnessing His love! Click on the buttons below to see a current "List of Service Opportunities." If you are able to serve or want more information, please "reply" to this email or call VIS at 616-459-7500. Opportunities are added daily and deleted as they are filled.

LIST OF SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

LIST OF TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITIES

Seeking Volunteers in the VIS Office

(Offices located at Calvary CRC in Wyoming)

Do you love Jesus and desire to serve? Are you available to support VIS staff by helping out in the office to provide phone support, process intake forms, write thank you notes, help with mailings, assist with special projects, etc? Learn more by reaching out to Cori today at cscholtens@visgr.org!

BE EQUIPPED TO SERVE

Deacons: Be Equipped to Serve

You have been asked to serve as a Deacon! (Now what?) Join Volunteers In Service as a new or returning deacon to review the role and responsibilities of deacons. We will discuss the following topics: Benevolence, Stewardship, Justice and Mercy, and Community Engagement. This training serves as an orientation or refresher for deacons as we explore the heart posture of "leading through service," building Christ's kingdom one life at a time.

Deacon Training (two options)

Monday, September 22 from 1-3pm
Thursday, September 25 from 6:30-8:30pm

Location: Calvary CRC at 3500 Byron Center Ave SW, Wyoming

RSVP Today: CLICK HERE

Save the Date: Fall Benevolence Workshop

Saturday, November 8 from 9am-3pm.

Location: Kentwood Christian Church 5841 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Grand Rapids

If you are in a role at your church to make decisions about the stewardship of benevolence funds, charitable giving, helping those in need, or are the first to answer the phone when a congregation member or community member calls the church in crisis, this training is for you! Benevolence Training is a one-day workshop focused on:

The Biblical Foundation of Benevolence
Care Receivers: Understanding the Person and Circumstances
Responding with Compassion, Knowledge and Processes that Witness Christ's Love.

Save your spot today. CLICK HERE to RSVP.

Thank you for supporting God's ministry through VIS!

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." Hebrews 13:16

Your gifts build the kingdom of God one relationship at a time as the people of God, created to serve, connect with opportunities to be God's hands and feet in their local community and witness Christ's love!

To support God's work through VIS with a financial gift: Click Here

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