4 minute read
A Beautiful Calling
Have you said, “Thank you!” to your Adventist Community Services director and their team for your church lately? If not, do not let another Sabbath go by without seeking them out and thanking them for their gracious ministry to our communities. I have such respect for those who volunteer their time to serve those who live in the community who truly need our help. The ACS mission statement states their goal is to “serve communities in Christ’s name, bringing hope, compassion, and practical support to those in need.”
You may not realize this, but while ADRA has a similar mission, their territory is comprised of the world outside the North American Division. It is the ACS program that provides care for our communities here in Canada, the United States and Bermuda.
Fires, Tornadoes, Floods
Here in Mid-America, our ACS-Disaster Relief team is so important in our territory for providing help in the aftermath of a disaster. In our region of the country, our response to wildfires, tornadoes and flooding hitting our communities is an important service we provide as a church. I am sure 95 percent of our members do not realize this, but the government looks to the Adventist Church to provide leadership for the warehousing needed for their emergency supplies sent to help those in need. This can be a huge undertaking, requiring weeks to facilitate and complete.
If there is a ministry in our church that needs our time and talents, it is our ACS programs throughout our territory. Whether you want to help with the disaster relief efforts or with your local ACS program for your community, your time and talent will make a significant difference in the way our communities receive the help they need.
One shining example
I have heard my daughter-in-law, Baylie Thurber, talk about her grandmother’s service as an ACS leader. Karen Reed, and her husband, Bill, ran the ACS program for the Galentine Seventh-day Adventist Church in Missouri for 45 years. Everyone in town knew them and loved them for the way in which they cared for their community.
Karen had a way of collaborating with other community leaders no matter what their faith background was. As the director of the ACS center, she would have between 10 and 20 volunteers working there with her every week from all different faith backgrounds: Baptists and other Protestants, Catholics and Mormons. Together they met the needs of those who lived in Galentine.
I was able to attend Bill Reed’s funeral. The town’s people asked that his service not take place in the Adventist Church because so many people from the community wanted to attend and that church simply would not be big enough.
Baylie recently shared a story that highlighted Bill’s character. While she was visiting her grandmother, her car needed a mechanic before she could drive home. Karen suggested someone who Bill had used when he was alive. Baylie called him and he took care of her and fixed her car very quickly. When Baylie tried to pay him, he said, “Oh no, I am not taking any money from you. Bill was the finest man I have ever known and did more for me than I could ever repay.”
What a beautiful legacy the Reeds have left in Galentine, Missouri, through the ACS program and the way they served and loved their community. ACS is a beautiful calling and the work our leaders and volunteers do is so impactful.
Thank you to all of you who do so much selfless work for others through this ministry!
