Other Service Opportunities
Loving Our Neighbors Well
Community Partnership Opportunities
As a church we are called to love and serve one another. In addition, we are called to reach out to those beyond our fellowship. We do a variety of “missional” things, says pastor Robbie Griggs. “Through local missions we support ministries that present the gospel and serve our greater St. Louis community. And two years ago, the Community Partnership team started a complementary initiative. The idea is simple: Christians should be serving not just in Christian organizations, but also in secular organizations as ministers through and to the organization. We can be ambassadors for Christ in places where good work is already happening.”
Volunteering in organizations and ministries outside the church provides a way to use the gifts and resources God has given each of us. We believe any organization requesting volunteers should respect and maximize the volunteer’s time and efforts through cohesive and consistent expectations, training and supervision. The Community Partnership team meets with and examines any organization that is being considered as a promoted volunteer opportunity for Central members. Organizations are vetted using the following criteria:
• Clear statement of need for volunteers
• Definition of what volunteers will be doing
• Type of volunteer activity – awareness of organization, single events, extended engagement
• How volunteers are organized
o Is there a volunteer coordinator
o Is there an orientation
o Are hours recorded – important if students need service hours
o Is there on-going training
o Will volunteers be working with other volunteers or alone
o Will volunteers be working directly with clients
• Clear path for how volunteers get involved
• Is there a Central member already volunteering with this organization
Interested in using your gifts in our community? Consider joining other Central members who volunteer in the the following organizations! The team hopes to add two or three organizations to the list each year.
Current Ministry Partners
