Meaningful Ways to Serve Your Community and Beyond

Every community needs selfless people who are willing to go out of their way to help those in need. That kind of charity is what makes cities and neighborhoods strong and vibrant. Taking part in worthy causes is also an excellent way to live out our testimonies as believers. If you're looking for practical ways to get involved, you've come to the right place. Here are some ideas to get you started, some close to home and some far away.

A volunteer need right here at the studio

We'll start with our own front door, because Great Commission Studios needs volunteers. Our founder, Summer Thomas-Reed, could use administrative support. Right now she wears many hats. She's involved in payroll processing, website development, HR, billing, marketing, reception, program development, and grant writing. She's also president of the board, the non-profit compliance officer, and a teaching assistant.

If you'd like to help in any of those areas as a volunteer, please get in touch with us. Even a few hours a month from someone who enjoys spreadsheets, email, or organizing paperwork frees up time to do what the studio exists to do. We're a non-profit with a simple mission, to worship Jesus and fund missions globally, and every hour of help keeps more of our resources pointed at that goal.

Find organizations that share your values

Working with organizations that share your vision and values helps you stay motivated to keep giving your time, energy, and money over the long haul. A cause you believe in is far easier to show up for when the weather is bad or the schedule is full. Here are a few ways to serve locally:

• Volunteer at a local food pantry to help feed your hungry neighbors.
• Spend time at a homeless shelter, providing food, clothing, and more to people who are suffering from homelessness.
• Make in-kind donations to animal shelters, which are always welcome.
• Consider organizing a charity walk fundraiser for an organization you want to support.

If you're not sure where to begin, pick one thing, call ahead to ask what the organization actually needs, and show up. Needs change from week to week, and a quick phone call keeps your good intentions from turning into a pile of donations nobody can use.

Contribute from afar

Along with serving the people around you, you can help solve problems around the globe. Samaritan's Purse is a world leader in providing aid to people in crisis. Doctors Without Borders carries out humanitarian projects in more than 70 countries. If you have a heart for children in poverty, consider donating or volunteering with Children International.

Our own studio supports global work, too. Studio profit goes first to three Lansing-area missionaries, Bram Nguyen and Scott and Ruth Thompson, with a special focus on the 3,000 unreached people groups of the world. We also support the ministries Reach a Village, Open Doors USA, and Joshua Project. It's an echo of Matthew 28:19-20, the text our studio is built on: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” Tuition, sponsorships, and donations all feed into that work.

Get involved in bigger ways

There are countless ways to serve a community, from organizing volunteer events to starting your own non-profit. If you're ready to go deeper, consider a few of these:

• Sponsor a recreational sports team or a community event.
• Look for volunteer opportunities in your community and commit to a regular day.
• Work in the healthcare field, where you can make a direct impact on people's well-being.
• Build your professional network and join the board of an organization you believe in.
• Make your place of business a place for teaching other entrepreneurs and professionals in your area.

Families can serve together, too. Children who help sort cans at a pantry or write notes to a missionary learn early that faith has hands and feet. Sponsorships help us fund scholarships so economically disadvantaged youth can dance alongside everyone else, along with outreach performances in the community.

Start before you feel ready

You don't have to wait any longer to start making a difference. Look over the ideas above and begin acting on whichever one tugs at your heart. You could be serving your neighbors, and helping people across the globe, as soon as tomorrow. Small, steady service tends to outlast big, one-time efforts, so choose something you can keep doing.

If you'd like to help the studio, ask about our volunteer needs when you call (517) 759-5554, or read about the ways to give on the donations page at /donations. New students are welcome to take a free trial class, and you can learn more about who we are on the About page at /about.