Follow these simple guidelines for conducting acts of kindness in the community.
| posted 2/22/2006
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Practice Safety at All Times
When you are performing a community project, make sure safety measures are considered. Provide brightly colored safety vests when conducting services close to a busy street. Never send teens or children out to perform tasks without proper adult supervision. Have plenty of men present when performing community acts. Have team members wear nametags or perhaps a T-shirt that promotes who and what you represent. Finally, if your community event is on a large scale, use cell phones or walkie-talkies so team members can communicate effectively. -
Demonstrate Kindness in Attitude
The acts of kindness you perform make an incredible impression on those you serve-but only if you do it with the right spirit. If you perform an act of kindness with a disgruntled spirit, chances are you have failed to minister to someone. Why? Often it is not necessarily the deed that impresses but the attitude of the one performing the deed. For instance, if you are gift wrapping a Christmas gift for someone, and all you can do is complain that your feet hurt, or that there are too many "cheap" people wanting "free" gift wrapping, then you've lost your effectiveness. The whole idea of an act of "kindness" is that it is done with a spirit of humility and graciousness. Never be overbearing or rude to someone you are serving. Undoubtedly you will perform a task for someone who is ungrateful or dissatisfied in return. When this occurs, always smile and be overly courteous. Remember that a smile and a gentle voice are powerful tools to apply when dealing with mean or unsatisfied people. Don't forget: The task you perform is only a tool you use to touch a soul for Jesus. -
Always Do Your Very Best
Whatever task you perform, do it to the best of your abilities. People notice laziness, apathy, and indifference. God desires our very best, and so do those we're trying to reach. This doesn't mean you have to be a perfectionist. However, performing a reasonably good job is within the limits of everyone. Your public effort will reflect either positively or negatively on your church. If your work is performed with quality, people will likely have a more positive opinion about your church. However, if your work performance is below par, people will draw the conclusion that your church must possess the same disposition (see Phil. 2:14-15). -
Review the Pros and Cons of Every Event
The time you spend reviewing what worked and what didn't will be energy well spent. The purpose for this review is to learn how to give away God's love to the lost more effectively. Discovering what people respond to can make all the difference in an effective project. -
Be in a Spirit of Prayer
Intercession is important when you are performing acts of kindness. First, pray for opportunities to share your faith and bear good fruit. Second, pray as you perform the act of kindness. Being in a spirit of prayer will enhance your heart and attitude while you attempt to serve others. When it is all over, they may forget you, but pray that they will not forget the Jesus they have seen in you. Third, pray for the people you are trying to reach. Ask God to give them a pliable heart and spirit. Finally, pray for results after the project is completed. You have planted seeds; now pray that those seeds fall on fertile soil.
