Expand Your Impact

3 Steps to Dignifying Those You Serve ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ If you cannot see images, please [click here]( [Shop CTA Products]( [Shop CTA Products]( [Women's Ministry]( [Men's Ministry]( [Children's Ministry]( [General Ministry]( [CTA Advantage]( February 2022 [3 Steps to Dignifying Those You Serve]( By Kristin Schultz As followers of Jesus, we are called to help meet the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of others. While serving does not earn anyone a place in heaven, service is a sign of active faith. Jesus told his disciples: [People will ask], “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:37-40 ESV) In churches today... [Read More]( [Shop]( tips & trends If you are starting a new mercy ministry or evaluating a current program, make sure to preserve and uplift the dignity of those you serve. As you do this, keep the following in mind: Autonomy Matters When serving others, it is imperative to give them choices. Letting people decide what they need for themselves gives them a sense of control that they may not always experience. Navigating social services programs is time-consuming and restrictive. Many pantries provide prepackaged boxes, without any input from the recipients. Government services may require participants to jump through many hoops to access their services. These programs often take away a person’s own choice and can make them even more dependent. The church should seek to help people break cycles of dependency and empower people to choose for themselves. Lose the Leftovers What good is an expired can of black olives? Who wants threadbare sheets or a sweat-stained dress shirt? We all have clothing, canned food, and household items that we no longer need, but if you’re going to ask the church for donations, emphasize dignity. Nonperishables should be nutritious and easy to prepare. Clothing should be clean, free of defects and in style. Household goods should be in good condition and not lack any parts. Free is Not Always Best There is dignity in providing for yourself and your family. Depending on the situation, you may benefit people more by allowing them to pay for small home repairs, Christmas presents, food, and health services. If you accept payment, ensure that all proceeds go back to outreach efforts. Train Your Volunteers Volunteers must be trained on how to interact with community members and treat them with respect. Make it clear that harassment, stereotyping, and unsolicited advice damages the reputation of the church in the community. Consider a written policy for volunteers. Jesus treated the woman caught in adultery (John 7:53–8:11) and the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39–43) with respect. We are to do the same. Offer Opportunities for Betterment No matter who we are, we want a better life for ourselves. Dignity often comes with learning a new skill to help yourself and your loved ones. As you serve, look for opportunities to improve their life situation. Consider classes in English, cooking, basic home repairs, and computer skills. To God be the Glory Perhaps the most significant trait you need to help others feel dignified is humility. The people you serve are just as important to God as you are. Their lifestyle may be different from yours, but at the end of the day, we are all sinners for whom Christ died and rose again. You are welcome to copy this article for one-time use when you include this credit line and receive no monetary benefit from it: © 2021 CTA, Inc. Used with permission. The external links included in this article are provided for informational purposes only. CTA makes every effort to ensure the information included in these links is accurate and relevant; however, CTA cannot guarantee the content, nor does CTA endorse any of the products or services offered on the external site. bonus And now for a little something extra. . . From articles to devotions to activity ideas and how-to lists, CTA Blog has useful resources to help you and your ministry. [Read More. . .]( [SPIRITUAL FITNESS COACHING]( [Read More]( [Read More. . .]( [LIVING IN THE BLACK – THE DEAL OF A LIFETIME]( [Read More]( [Read More. . .]( [USE PERSONAL CONNECTIONS TO SHARE CHRIST-CENTERED HOPE]( [Read More]( [Women's Ministry]( [Men's Ministry]( [Children's Ministry]( [General Ministry]( [CTA Advantage]( CTA, Inc. 1653 LARKIN WILLIAMS ROAD SUITE 202, FENTON, MO 63026, United States customerservice@ctainc.com []( This email was sent to {EMAIL} because you've subscribed on our site or made a purchase. [Unsubscribe]( | [Edit preferences](