“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58
In conjunction with Labour Day, we interview some of our long-serving volunteers at Jesus Club (JC) to find out what keeps them labouring for the Lord through the ups and downs and the merry-go-round of life.
Here are the questions we put to them:
A) How long have you been serving at JC?
B) What challenges have you faced along the way? For example, have you ever felt like taking a break or stopping altogether from serving at JC?
C) What’s kept you labouring for the Lord at JC all these years?
D) Any tips for our newer volunteers on how to serve without sinking?
Lincoln
A) How long have you been serving at JC?
I’ve been serving in Jesus Club since it started, for 11 years now.
B) What challenges have you faced along the way? For example, have you ever felt like taking a break or stopping altogether from serving at JC?
There’s the challenge of busyness. When I’m busy with work and family life, it can be tiring to commit to and prepare for Jesus Club.
There’s also the challenge of effectiveness. I’ve been meeting the same group of guys for a few years now and sometimes I wonder if what they’ve learnt at Jesus Club has been helping them grow to love and trust Jesus more.
C) What’s kept you labouring for the Lord at JC all these years?
First, it’s knowing that the gospel is true – that Jesus has given us wonderful news that our sins are fully paid for and that we have the hope of everlasting life with Jesus.
Second, it’s knowing that this gospel is for everyone. Just as this gospel has reached me and changed me, so I have the privilege of sharing this same gospel with others around me, including our friends with intellectual disability.
Third, it’s the relationship I have with my friends at JC. While growth is often slow and sometimes invisible, yet, each week, I rejoice at being able to spend time with them, listening to them, learning from them, and encouraging them to cling on to our great hope and future in Christ.
Finally, continuing to grow deep in my own relationship with God helps me to see ministry as a privilege and not a burden. It then frees me to serve without grumbling or comparing.
D) Any tips for our newer volunteers on how to serve without sinking?
Learn to prioritise and to say no to other things so that you can commit to and be present at JC.
See coming to JC not as something to do, but as a family gathering to enjoy.
Sheryl
A) How long have you been serving at JC?
I have been serving at Jesus Club for about 8 years, since 2016.
B) What challenges have you faced along the way? For example, have you ever felt like taking a break or stopping altogether from serving at JC?
It can be tiring to turn up after work every fortnight.
I have found that persons with intellectual disability find it hard to grasp the gospel message because it can be abstract. For example, they cannot see God and Jesus, and it’s hard for them to imagine Jesus’ resurrection because it’s not humanly possible. It’s also hard for them to understand how Jesus took on God’s punishment for our sins when he died.
For a number of years, I was serving in multiple areas in church on top of Jesus Club as well. Due to there being a lack of manpower in many of these areas in church, I did not ask to take breaks or for reduced responsibilities. I grew increasingly tired and discontent with serving and only realised I was burnt out when I started dreading church and Christian community altogether. It took a toll on my spiritual walk as well and I did not want to read the bible, pray and meet other Christian friends. I questioned if I was still Christian but realised I still believed and trusted that Jesus died for my sins and rose again to be King over all things. I also felt excited when I had opportunities to tell my non-Christian friends about Jesus. It was then that I knew I needed to get my priorities right and focus on my own relationship with God. I asked to take a break from all the areas I was serving at church and asked for reduced responsibilities at Jesus Club. It has been about 2 years since I took the break and I am slowly making progress in my relationship with God and His people.
C) What’s kept you labouring for the Lord at JC all these years?
The main reason why I chose to start serving at JC is the realisation that people with disabilities need the gospel as much as people without disabilities do. Just like the rest of the world, they too are sinners who have rejected God as Creator and Jesus is the only one who can save them. However, given the nature of disabilities, people with disabilities tend to lack access to the gospel and to church community. Jesus Club becomes a platform for them to hear about Jesus and participate in the body of Christ. This remains my main motivation even throughout my burnout and I thank God for preserving my trust in the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
D) Any tips for our newer volunteers on how to serve without sinking?
I personally don’t know the answer to this yet, but one helpful thing to remind yourself is that your identity as a Christian is not found on how much you serve, but solely on the work of Jesus on the cross.
The church is one body made up of many parts, don’t be afraid of taking breaks when you need them; it is after all the responsibility of Christians to support one another and help one another persevere on till Jesus returns.
Kay
A) How long have you been serving at JC?
I started serving in September 2021, back when everything was still on Zoom!
B) What challenges have you faced along the way? For example, have you ever felt like taking a break or stopping altogether from serving at JC?
There have been periods where I’ve wondered if my labouring for God in JC was in vain. I was skeptical if the time and effort that was put in to preparing the materials for teaching the Word would successfully help our members grow in their faith and knowledge of Christ. This was especially so for members who are non-verbal, unable to express if they have understood the Word taught. This translated to sloppy, last-minute preparations for small group discussions. However, over time, God revealed that I harboured unbelief in my heart. Our sovereign and all-knowing God holds everyone’s faiths in His tender hands. I am just a seed-planter and waterer. He is the One in control – the One who gives the growth. By faith and prayer, I trust that God has worked and is working in the hearts of our members, through the volunteers’ efforts to teach His Word.
C) What’s kept you labouring for the Lord at JC all these years?
2 things! Firstly, it’s recognising that our friends with special needs are also brothers- & sisters-in-Christ, fully known and dearly loved by the same Father. We are all part of God’s family, called to serve the same God and love each other. This looks a lot like creating a conducive space for our friends to worship God, learn about His Word and have fellowship with one another. Secondly, it’s the child-like faith and wonder of our JC friends that remind me to not over-complicate the faith. I’ve come to realise that while I am part of the team that delivers the content from the Word, our friends in JC model for me how to live out the faith with full trust in our Father. Super encouraging!
D) Any tips for our newer volunteers on how to serve without sinking?
It may be overwhelming and unfamiliar at first, so be intentional to seek to understand our friends with special needs. Our members are more than their diagnoses; they are God’s children who have their own preferences & personalities. Take the time to learn about them and build on these authentic friendships – this will help to spur you on in times of weariness.