Be the Church | where to serve this summer

Normally for Lifeline, July is filled with lots of serving opportunities including a local Grand Rapids mission trip where we serve various organizations in our community doing yardwork, sorting clothes, working in the garden, putting bikes together and other tasks that help us “Be the Church” by creating relationships with people in our own city.

The month of July also usually includes an international mission trip where we host Vacation Bible School, visit orphanages, share testimonies and Be the Church by creating relationships with people thousands of miles away. While those organized trips have been cancelled, we would love to encourage you as a family to “Be the Church” in other ways this summer!

Be the Church? What does that mean? A simple definition is- loving God by loving others. It is a phrase you have probably heard in the weekend services at Ada Bible during the last couple of months along with the question, “who are you looking out for?” We are in a unique space this summer (as you’ve heard it said 100+ times) and you may have unexpected free time or you may be feeling a pull in your heart to serve but you don’t know how and where to get started. 

We’ve put together a few organizations your student or your family can serve this summer.

1. Kids Food Basket-An organization that fights to end food insecurities in West Michigan by providing sack lunches to students during the school year as well as in the summer. They are in need of decorated brown paper bags to pack meals in. So grab a stack of XL (6 or 8 lb-size is 6x11-12” tall) brown or white paper bags and start decorating! Please keep in mind that these meals are distributed to public schools so we cannot have political or religious messages on them, as well as please do not use stickers, glitter, feathers or paint. We are excited to see the designs that your students come up with to bless the children who will be receiving these meals in the fall. We will be collecting these bags at the end of July during these drop off times:

July 29

-Drop off at East Paris or Kentwood Campus between 3-6pm

July 30

-Drop off at Cascade or Knapp St Campus between 3-6pm

2. Woodfield Community Center- An organization that serves the students that live in the Woodfield Apartments in Kentwood. They provide a safe environment for students to hang out as well as cookouts, after school tutoring, etc. You can serve the Woodfield Community Center by writing encouraging notes to students that attend. They would love to receive notes from our Lifeline Students about what they have planned for the summer, any encouraging Bible verse, or just a simple note of hello! You can drop these notes off during our Kids Food Basket drop off times as well!

3. Alpha Grand Rapids-An organization that serves and cares for families in our community. Alpha is looking for families and students to volunteer at their location on Wednesdays and Thursdays this summer. Tasks may include sorting clothes, cleaning, outdoor yard work, labeling, etc. If you are interested in serving at Alpha GR, please reach out directly to their Material Resource Coordinator, Lydia Straube (lstraube@alphagrandrapids.org) or at 616-459-9955 ext 116.

We hope you are able to find ways to Be the Church this summer whether that be with organizations in our community or by blessing those in your neighborhood!

About the author:
Jess Triemstra

Jess is the Events Administrative Assistant for Lifeline Student Ministries.