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Parkview just wouldn't be the same without all of our amazing volunteers! We are super thankful for April for her faithful service!
Where are you from?
I grew up in Miami and Orlando.
What is/was your occupation?
Over 20 years, Administrative Assistant with Odom, Moses & Company/Raymond James in Lake City. I retired two years ago and love to read, quilt and travel.
Tell us about your family! (spouse/children)
I met Ted after he completed his service with the US Marine Corps and we were married in Orlando in 1972. He joined ServiceMaster, a company that transferred us to various cities in the southeast over the next 25 years and with each move, we found a new church home and became involved. Some of my volunteer service included choir, Youth Committee Director, and as a Wednesday night supper cook. I led GA's and Baptist Young Women groups. We also taught a Young Married's Sunday School Class. A highlight for us was when we lived in Little Rock, Arkansas, we participated in a Billy Graham crusade! Ted was an usher and I sang in the choir. It was an amazing experience! When our daughters got older and started their own lives, we decided to move back to Florida to be closer to our aging parents. We moved to Lake City and joined Parkview 24 years ago. Currently, our oldest daughter Jennifer and her husband Glenn live in Lawton, Oklahoma with our two granddaughters, Abbey (16) and Emma (15). Our daughter Summer and her husband Bobby live here in Lake City with our grandson Toby (15) - he is JonSeth's biggest fan! Our oldest grandson Nicholas (23) grew up at Parkview and now he lives and works in Orlando.
Which ministries do you serve in?
Over the years at Parkview, I have served in Awana, Vacation Bible School, and First Impressions. Ted and I help with Upward Basketball, and we work with the Builders for Christ mission trips in June each year. We also volunteer at the Operation Christmas Child shoebox distribution center in Atlanta each December-a wonderful experience! Two years ago, I joined the Parkview choir and it is a huge blessing in my life. I enjoy being part of the Sharon Mission Group where there are many opportunities for ministry throughout the year. As the new WMU Director, I want to encourage more women to join us in one of our mission groups!
Do you have a favorite volunteer role?
I love being a greeter in the Upward Basketball program. Each Saturday for a few weeks in January and February, our church gym is packed with children and their families -- most of whom are not members of Parkview. We want them to feel welcome, and that this is a place where they can belong. We want them to come back to learn about Jesus! Upward Basketball is Parkview's biggest local outreach opportunity.
Why is it important to you to serve?
I feel that It is important to serve, because in serving, we're "giving back" a portion of what God has richly blessed us with. He calls us each to serve, to support and encourage fellow believers, and to share the love of Christ with our city, country and the world. One small act of service can have a bigger impact than we can imagine.
How have those you serve at our church responded?
They are appreciative for the help, and are glad to have you on the team.
How has volunteering had an impact on you?
I have been amazed at the amount of ministry a dedicated, organized group of women can accomplish for God's kingdom. Parkview women volunteer their time and energy in the Sharon Mission group, to pray for missionaries, learn about and support local ministries such as the Pregnancy Care Center, Another Way, CARC and One More Child, and local veterans. We actually reach across the world with the gospel by collecting for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes and supporting artisans in other countries who have been rescued from poverty and human trafficking, through WorldCrafts. Our other mission groups, the Mathis Group and P-31 Group round out our WMU at Parkview. It makes me very happy to be part of this group of women who are on mission for Christ!
What have you learned about yourself or others through volunteering?
I can do more than I thought I could do, and the rewards are much greater than I could have imagined.
What has been the biggest surprise about volunteering at church?
It's really not that hard!
If you could encourage someone else to volunteer what would you say?
I would say, jump in! You will make new friends, and you'll have the great feeling of having contributed to something greater than yourself, something with potentially eternal consequences. We each have different gifts and abilities, but we are ALL called to serve in some way! Invest a little of your time, it will be worth it! There are many different choices available for volunteering.
Anything else you would like to share?
I am so thankful that God led me and Ted to Parkview many years ago. I am thankful for the pastoral staff, the Parkview music ministry under Skylar Teel and the inspired teaching we receive each week from Pastor Mike and from our Lifegroup leader, Don Gutshall. Ted and I have made so many wonderful friendships here and have learned and grown in our faith over the years. We feel very blessed and thankful! Also, even though it is not a "volunteer" activity, the D-Group (Discipleship Group) I have been involved in for several years has made a huge impact on my life. There are so many ways to learn and grow at Parkview. One of those ways is to volunteer - don't miss out on the blessing of serving!
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