I used to think I could go through life with Simon and Garfunkel’s “I Am a Rock” as my theme song.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.
This was how I thought I could live my life. I figured I could get by doing everything alone, relying on others as little as possible. I had a very private faith, and I didn’t think I needed to go to church every week. Christianity is about a personal relationship with Christ, right? What did I need other people for?
Then God introduced me to the woman who would be my wife. Through her, he started to show me this amazing thing known as “community.” I learned that life is better when you aren’t alone. That life is easier when you aren’t alone. When you have someone to high five during the good times, and to support you during the bad, living, and by extension serving, becomes much easier.
We’re not made to go through life alone. We’re social creatures, some more than others, but we all require social interaction to some extent, and this need increases when we serve. Serving isn’t always easy. Serving isn’t always rewarding. But it is a whole lot easier when we have someone with us.
In elementary school, my teacher picked up a small stick and easily snapped it in two. She then grabbed a handful of sticks and attempted, unsuccessfully, to break them. This lesson may have been to illustrate how physical objects are stronger in groups, but it is also a lesson we can apply to many areas of our life, including serving.
Through the first 13 chapters, Dino lays out the various aspects of a servolution: what it is, how to do it, and what to remember, along with a ton of great advice and interesting stories. One constant that came up numerous times and stood out to me: his wife, DeLynn. DeLynn was there to support him from the very beginning; she shared in his joys and supported him during the tough times.
For Dino this support network started with his wife, and as Healing Place Church grew so did his support network of friends, family, staff, volunteers and so on. They are there to keep you going when things get tough. They are there to keep you accountable. They are there to bounce ideas off of and to help your reach greater heights than you could on your own.
Jesus’ ministry wouldn’t have had the impact it did had he tried to go at it alone. Sure, he would have amassed quite the following, and he would have had people flocking to him hoping to be healed or to see one of his miracles, but imagine what a lonely journey that would’ve been? Jesus understood the importance of serving with others.
He also understood the importance of choosing the right people for the job. All of Jesus’ disciples were somehow connected to one another, and they formed a tighter, stronger web than if he had picked 12 random dudes off the street. It’s much easier to get through the tough times when you have people who understand the importance of solid committed relationships.
From the very beginning, God destined us to be with others, “The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’” (Gen. 2:18) So build up that support network and get out there and serve. As Dino says early in the book, “whatever, whenever.”
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Get the book: Servolution: Starting a Church Revolution Through Serving (Note: Buying it here helps the bibledude feed the family! Thanks! 🙂 )
About the contributor:
By day, Christopher Neufeld can be found keeping the computers and networks running smoothly for a local school division in Winnipeg, MB. By weekend, he can be found at Central Baptist laying down some funky low-end grooves in the house band. He’s blessed with a beautiful wife, and together they are expecting a baby boy in October. Through this all he wishes he was (and one day will be) a pastor. He can be found writing at http://twistedchristian.ca and on twitter at twitter.com/twistedxtian.
I needed this message. The world needs this message more every day, I'm afraid. A smaller world allows for us to connect to so many people that we increase our odds for heartache, and sadly, that has a lot of us giving up on making connections. I would sink into myself some days, if I could, and I've been in that island state of mind lately. This was just the dose of Godly accountability that I needed, and I know I'm not alone in that!
Fantastic job, Christopher! Bullseye!
^5 Good Job Christopher! There's your High Five! Now, if i can Just get my Husband to understand this Concept! Thats ok though! God's working on him! He's Changing In God's Time ..Not mine!
I loved this chapter. Great post, Chris 🙂
One of the biggest challenges in my life, and definitely in ministry, is to get out of my comfort zone. I'm an introvert, so getting out there and talking to folks or getting out there and serving is really difficult for me. As I was reading this book, I started to take it as a personal challenge to get out there. And then reading this final chapter really hit everything home for me.
Getting out there and fostering relationships at home to form that support group is an essential step to start serving. And the perfect way to build that support group? Serve them. Then get out there and serve together. I'm looking forward (though with slight trepidation) to getting out there beyond my comfort zone and starting a servolution. I know with God's help, I can do it.
my favorite thing that you said here… “Serving isn’t always rewarding. But it is a whole lot easier when we have someone with us.”
You could not have nailed it more on the head than that. I also really appreciate your thoughts about if you need someone, then go serve someone… then bring them along to serve others. Awesome!
You really helped close this one out with a bang Chris! I really appreciate you and your heart!
^5 Good Job Christopher! There's your High Five! Now, if i can Just get my Husband to understand this Concept! Thats ok though! God's working on him! He's Changing In God's Time ..Not mine!
I loved this chapter. Great post, Chris 🙂
One of the biggest challenges in my life, and definitely in ministry, is to get out of my comfort zone. I'm an introvert, so getting out there and talking to folks or getting out there and serving is really difficult for me. As I was reading this book, I started to take it as a personal challenge to get out there. And then reading this final chapter really hit everything home for me.
Getting out there and fostering relationships at home to form that support group is an essential step to start serving. And the perfect way to build that support group? Serve them. Then get out there and serve together. I'm looking forward (though with slight trepidation) to getting out there beyond my comfort zone and starting a servolution. I know with God's help, I can do it.
my favorite thing that you said here… “Serving isn’t always rewarding. But it is a whole lot easier when we have someone with us.”
You could not have nailed it more on the head than that. I also really appreciate your thoughts about if you need someone, then go serve someone… then bring them along to serve others. Awesome!
You really helped close this one out with a bang Chris! I really appreciate you and your heart!