Serve
Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.
MATTHEW 25:40
Love Others as Christ Loves You
At CEFC, our vision is All of Life for Christ. As we grow in our relationship with Christ, new ways to serve His people and creation become clear to us. Matthew 25:40 instructs us to care for the “least of these.” As Christians, our love for God should spur us to love others.
Loving others, we believe, requires a “two-handed” approach – providing physical bread in one hand and the spiritual Bread of Life in the other. Your obedience and service in Christ’s name, is a light in the darkness and gives glory to our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16), leaving an eternal impact.
Loving others, we believe, requires a “two-handed” approach – providing physical bread in one hand and the spiritual Bread of Life in the other. Your obedience and service in Christ’s name, is a light in the darkness and gives glory to our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16), leaving an eternal impact.
We are Kingdom-Minded. We are broken people living amongst broken systems within our world. Our brokenness leads to poverty – not just material poverty – but relational and spiritual poverty. In scripture, we see Jesus cared for the broken and marginalized – the widow, poor, and orphan (Matthew 25:40). Jesus came to reconcile a broken world with God. Through the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) we are called to “go and make disciples of all nations.” As ambassadors of Christ, we are entrusted to carry out Christ’s work, advancing the Kingdom of God and remaining eternally focused in our ministry and service efforts.
We value an Action-Oriented Faith. We are not passive consumers of God’s word, but instead “do-ers” of God’s word, living out our faith in Christ by being obedient in stewarding and using our God-given gifts to advance ministry within and outside of the church walls. “For as each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10).
We seek Mutually Beneficial Relationships in service. Relationships with community partners, churches and volunteers are not one-sided, but instead, offer humility and a mutually beneficial exchange of ideas, resources, and collaboration. “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).
We demonstrate Dignity for all people. For “God created man in His own image” (Genesis 1:27) and “all are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). As created beings – all persons are image-bearers of Christ and are worthy of our honor and respect.
We pursue Focused Excellence. In ministry, we are never short of new and good opportunities to engage our church and community. However, saying “yes” to good things, may mean we miss out on saying “yes” to the very best things. Focused excellence means we commit to essentialism – choosing to do a few things well, rather than many things adequately, so that we are better able to accomplish what God is calling us to. In discerning and pursuing focused ministries – we will “do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Serve CEFC
There is a lot that goes into all of the ministries here at CEFC. From Kids Cove and Students Volunteers, the Worship and Production teams, Greeters and the Hospitality teams on Sundays, to people who are praying for and ministering to individuals throughout the week. There are tons of ways you can serve at CEFC. We would love for you to join us!
Serve Local
As we grow in our relationship with Christ, new ways to serve His people and creation become clear to us. Matthew 25:40 reminds us that whatever we do for the “least of these” we do for the Lord. Pray that you may have eyes to see the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of your neighbors.
Loving your neighbor could be as simple as inviting a friend to church or praying for a co-worker. It could involve sharing words of encouragement, sharing basic resources, or bringing a meal to a new mom. If you are not sure where to start, we encourage you to connect with one of our local partnering agencies below, who are providing diverse and tangible ways to serve our neighbors in Carlisle and surrounding regions.
Loving your neighbor could be as simple as inviting a friend to church or praying for a co-worker. It could involve sharing words of encouragement, sharing basic resources, or bringing a meal to a new mom. If you are not sure where to start, we encourage you to connect with one of our local partnering agencies below, who are providing diverse and tangible ways to serve our neighbors in Carlisle and surrounding regions.
Love Your Neighbor Week
We believe that as followers of Christ, we are “Sent out to Serve.” One of the best places to do that is right here in our own community. It is our hope that people at CEFC would go out into their community and serve, sharing the love of Christ as they care for people’s spiritual and physical needs. At the same time, we recognize that this can sometimes feel like a daunting task. People may not know where they are gifted to serve or may not be aware of the organizations already meeting needs in our community.
That is why each year, we take part in Love Your Neighbor Week. We partner with organizations all across our community that are caring for people’s needs. Through Love Your Neighbor Week, you can step into those organizations, serve alongside others from CEFC, and learn firsthand about what they do by serving with them. It is our prayer that through these experiences, you would find a place to get plugged into a ministry where you can serve throughout the year, continuing to share the love of Christ with the community you are a part of.
That is why each year, we take part in Love Your Neighbor Week. We partner with organizations all across our community that are caring for people’s needs. Through Love Your Neighbor Week, you can step into those organizations, serve alongside others from CEFC, and learn firsthand about what they do by serving with them. It is our prayer that through these experiences, you would find a place to get plugged into a ministry where you can serve throughout the year, continuing to share the love of Christ with the community you are a part of.
Serve Global
“Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples” (1 Chronicles 16:23-24).
God is at work in the global church and we have an opportunity to invest globally as well. Whether through prayer, financial support, or joining a short-term mission team, you can be used to minister to communities both near and far. Consider taking a step outside of your comfort zone. With a posture of humility, be prepared to learn and grow in your faith like never before!
God is at work in the global church and we have an opportunity to invest globally as well. Whether through prayer, financial support, or joining a short-term mission team, you can be used to minister to communities both near and far. Consider taking a step outside of your comfort zone. With a posture of humility, be prepared to learn and grow in your faith like never before!
Missionaries We Support
God is at work in the global church! At CEFC we invite you to connect with the work of our missionaries and consider your own role in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) – as we seek to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to all nations! We support both local and global missionaries. Not only do our missionaries receive financial support, but even more importantly they rely on our spiritual and relational support. As you learn about the missions work CEFC supports, we encourage you to pray and connect with those on the mission field.
Not sure where to start?
Finding out how God shaped you to serve and doing it regularly is one of the greatest joys in this life! If you think you are ready to take the next step in your faith journey, please complete the interest survey to get started!