Volunteering at The Voice of the Martyrs is unlike any other volunteer opportunity. Not only have I experienced it, but I have heard countless people relay their amazement in seeing God’s hand so clearly displayed in one place.
The volunteers who cross our paths are truly special people. Their sacrifice is compelling, their stories are invigorating, and their passion is contagious. They come from all walks of life and no two share the same background. Well, almost. Once in a while, a volunteer meets someone who knows his or her parents, shares the same friends, or grew up in the same town. It just took coming to VOM for them to meet one another!
Each week people enter through the doors of the operation center as "strangers" and leave with joy of meeting more of their Christian family. The various tasks they complete help each person learn to stay united as they work together as a team.
For many people, volunteering is an opportunity to connect with fellow believers who possess the same passion. What is really special is how the conversation always comes back to our persecuted family. They are at the core of what we do and why we are here to serve. As I walk around the operations center each day, I relish the fact that folks are seeing how their acts of service can impact so many lives.
After years of volunteering my own time not only with VOM but also at other ministries, I have learned that volunteering is really the art of giving back what you have received. It is a special privilege to be part of distributing the newsletter. Volunteering is an avenue that I can use to help others. When you volunteer at VOM, you have the privilege to help distribute our newsletter. By doing so, we are being the hands and feet to bring the story of a believer who sacrificed everything for the Gospel.
I believe it strengthens the hearts of those who are in the fellowship of His sufferings when they hear and see that thousands of people throughout the U.S. unite for the same common goal of spreading the name of Christ. Volunteering is a tangible way to demonstrate that we remember the saints as if we were in bonds with them (Hebrews 13:3).
There are several ways to “give back” through volunteering at VOM. You can volunteer to assist with one of the many regional conferences that VOM puts on around the country. Volunteers can go through the training to become a Community Voice speaker and attend churches and events to represent VOM. At home, you can fill an Action Pack or Outreach Pack to send to your persecuted brothers and sisters. Or, you can serve at The Voice of the Martyrs’ headquarters in Bartlesville, Oklahoma packing those same Action Packs for shipping and help prepare our 400,000 newsletters for mailing.
As we begin a new year in a few short hours’ time, how will you “give back” this year?
Marie P. serves as VOM’s Resource Assembly Lead, where she works closely with our volunteer staff. She came to VOM as a one-year volunteer, and then joined the full-time staff three years ago.
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