New for 2018: ‘Tiny Green Thumbs’
Family-Friendly Serving Project Keeps Kids Safe and Builds Relationships
For 2018, ForColumbia’s Executive Team has been working to implement a widening range of serving opportunities to fit literally anyone who wants to volunteer. One opportunity we’d like to highlight this year is a family service project we’re calling “Tiny Green Thumbs.”
When He gave His disciples a preview of the Final Judgment in Matthew 25:31-40, Jesus made a direct connection between the kindness we show to others in need and serving Christ Himself. We believe Tiny Green Thumbs mirrors Jesus’ teaching as we provide a way for families to show kindness to some of the more marginalized individuals in Columbia.
This new serving project will be ideal for families who would like to find a way to serve alongside their younger children – ages three to seven years, though older children could also participate if they wish. Families assigned to this serving project will decorate a flower pot together and plant flowers in their pot. They will then personally deliver their flowers to one of the residents at another ForColumbia serving site, where other volunteers will be busy cleaning, organizing and doing outside yardwork.
This serving project will be hosted by Alive in Christ, one of our partnering churches. Tim Morris, pastor at AIC, believes this serving project could have a big impact on both children and our neighbors in the community: “We hope that the kids and families will make a direct connection between this project and the people we’re serving, that they will enjoy serving together and that this effort blesses our more-marginalized residents.”
In addition to providing a more personal connection, Pastor Tim explains, “We (also) want to help families instill the blessings of serving others into the lives of their children. This is a super simple way to do that, and should be fun!”
Families who want to serve in this way should sign up to volunteer, then send a follow-up email to [email protected] requesting assignment to Tiny Green Thumbs.
Jesus in Matthew 25:31-40 (ESV)
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘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.'”
