Find what you are passionate about and do it!

There’s nothing like personal experience to make people passionate about a cause.

People who been through a trauma often say, “I wouldn’t wish what I’ve been through on anybody, but at least I’ll be able to use my experiences to help others.”

Then they never do – usually because they’re never encouraged to do so. This seems like a missed opportunity.

Over the years, Care for the Family has found that its most effective projects and resources are run by people who have experienced that particular crisis themselves.

Liz Gardner is responsible for Care for the Family’s single parents work – she was a single parent herself. Christine Tufnell runs our work for stepfamilies – she is part of a stepfamily. Bob Jones started our network A Different Journey, for those who lose their partner early in life – he was in just this position. Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who started the Bereaved Parents Network, did so out of the experience of losing their own son.

All these projects - and more - have proved to be valuable to others because they are led by people who understand the issues first hand and have a longing to make a difference.

Imagine for a moment that you could harness the good and bad experiences of your congregation and turn them out in community engagement. Not everybody who has been bereaved, divorced, in debt, or has child who has used drugs, will want to turn their experiences around. But maybe just enough will want to do so.

Allowing people to tell their story, share their passion, discover and utilise their gifts can make a huge difference. As church leaders you can encourage them to seek training, become befrienders through the Care for the Family networks, or start something in your neighbourhood.

By igniting people’s passion and exploring their experiences you might discover some fantastic new projects waiting to surface.

What could you or members of your congregation do?

Last Updated 30 November 2010