Living Out The Value of Service
One of my favorite things about the people that call Summit home is that this community values creating lifestyles of service. This value is lived out uniquely by every person at Summit. Whether it’s becoming a small group leader in Foothills, participating in a niceSERVE project, or joining a team that goes to Africa— the partners and attendees at Summit consistently find ways to make service a part of their lives. This is a community of people joyfully pursuing God’s call to serve those who need it most.
To me, this has been reflected tangibly by choosing to give the entirety of last year’s Christmas Eve offering and dedicating hours of service to one of our partners, Community Food and Outreach Center. God always does big things with the Christmas Eve offering, and last year was no different. Community Food and Outreach Center is in the life-changing business of helping people to lift themselves from the cycle of poverty by offering the services and resources they need most.
Summit chose to partner so intentionally with Community Food and Outreach Center because they are doing God’s work of caring for those in our own city who are vulnerable and in need of a helping hand. I am so thankful that Summit decided to go where God is working and join hands with those who are faithfully serving His people.
“...it is no surprise that you all stepped up and trusted that God would use your time and resources to change the lives of our neighbors.”
Not only was it decided to support Community Food and Outreach Center in their work with a financial gift, but you all went one step further by giving your time. By the end of the 2015 calendar year, we collectively served over 2,600 hours at Community Food and Outreach Center! For me, it is no surprise that you all stepped up and trusted that God would use your time and resources to change the lives of our neighbors. You showed up in Connect groups, on Family Nights, on your own, and during events like Surge in the City, Edge Serves, and niceSERVE. The value of service was lived out because we know that is what God has called us to and it’s a way we can show God’s love for His people.
Now that 2015 is over, I hope we are all able to look back and see how your gifts of time and money have made a difference in the life of this organization and in the lives of the people Community Food and Outreach Center serves. My sincere hope is that we would not let this partnership end, but continue to serve alongside this organization that has done, and continues to do, so much good for the people who need it most.
To learn more about how you can continue to partner with Community Food and Outreach Center, reach out to Ashlyn Murphy at amurphy@summitconnect.org. She'd love to help you get connected with this organization!