Did you know April is National Volunteer Month? At Cedar Hills, we are blessed with many volunteers who find great joy in serving the Lord with the varied gifts, talents and passions and we believe everyone is called and wired to find their specific role in serving the church.

We compiled the lists and starting Sunday, April 7, you can stop by the volunteering table and write a “Thank You” to a volunteer who is currently serving Cedar Hills.  All the supplies are provided! Won’t you take a few moments to bless the heart of another in our church family and thank them for their time?

Haven’t found a place to serve yet? We’ll also have a list of current needs and openings in our volunteer base.  Who knows? Maybe God will lead you into your area of passion and ministry with just the right fit.

Jesus answered, “The most important one is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)

Volunteering is one way to follow both commandments at the same time!  Through serving others you are showing your love to God by sharing His love with those in need.  Love God – Love Others.  BUT did you know that volunteering also shows your love for yourself which is part of God’s commandment as well?  He wants us to live full lives that honor Him, and volunteering is one of the ways we can do that.

Benefits of volunteering: 15 ways to feel healthier and happier

Community, loneliness, and bonding

1. Volunteering builds community
2. Volunteering ends loneliness
3. Volunteering increases socializing
4. Volunteering build bonds, creates friends

Mental health and happiness in volunteers

5. Volunteering develops emotional stability
6. Volunteering improves self-esteem
7. Volunteering helps those most affected by mental illness

Overall Health Improvements

8. Volunteering promotes longevity
9. Volunteering reduces risk of Alzheimer’s
10. Volunteering leads to graceful aging
11. Volunteering burns that suborn belly fat

Future goals and career opportunities

12. Volunteering improves school and college experience
13. Volunteering provides better job prospects
14. Volunteering develops corporate communities
15. Volunteering adds fun to your years

How can I get involved:

In the church?

1. Take the Spiritual Gifts survey to identify the gifts God has given you
2. Fill out your profile in the Cedar Hill’s CCB to identify your gifts AND your passions
3. Stop by the table in the Gathering Space to see the opportunities available and sign up to serve.

In the community?

1. Contact an agency that matches your passions and ask about the opportunities to serve.
2. Sign up on a volunteer app or website. There are several available, but to show how easy it is to learn about volunteering opportunities in the community, we will focus on the United Way’s website called “Volunteer Now”.
   1. Got to the Website https://unitedwayofeastcentraliowa.galaxydigital.com/
   2. Create an account
   3. Once you are logged in you can:
      1. Browse agencies and tag them as favorites – you will receive notification when a new volunteer opportunity is posted for your favorite agencies
      2. Respond (sign up to volunteer) to a need