wfn.org | ABCUSA: Volunteer Sunday to be Celebrated April 18

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 3/12/04)--Volunteer Sunday,
scheduled for April 18, will offer an opportunity for congregations across
the country to honor the contributions volunteers make to the life and
mission of the American Baptist Churches USA--from the local church to the
national and global mission of the denomination.

Volunteer Sunday is an ongoing annual recognition.  It also is, according to
Mike Buckles, coordinator of International Ministries' Volunteers in Global
Mission, "a time to challenge ourselves to step outside our own comfort zones
to allow the Lord to empower us to use the gifts he has given us."

"This can be anything from teaching a Sunday School class and mowing a lawn
for someone to serving at an American Baptist-related Christian center in the
United States or traveling halfway around the world to assist in a
marginalized community," Buckles notes. "Volunteers are the face of Christ in
a needy world. Being the presence of Christ is more important than any work
we do, even though volunteers do many wonderful deeds. Offering it in the
name of Jesus empowers and enriches the gifts and the giver."

Through National Ministries' Volunteers in Mission and International
Ministries' Volunteers in Global Mission programs, thousands of
individuals--on their own and in groups--serve as volunteer missionaries in
mission settings in the United States, Puerto Rico and around the world.
Resources to help churches celebrate Volunteer Sunday have been prepared by
American Baptist Volunteer Services, an interboard cooperative committee, and
are available by contacting Jonathan Hilsher at 1-800-ABC-3USA/x2164. 
Information on home mission volunteer opportunities is available at
www.nationalministries.org/mission/vim; information on overseas volunteer
opportunities is available at www.internationalministries.org.

K/2004ABNS/04ABN26

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA x2077
/ (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org