Working for Christian Care Ministry is not like other jobs. There are opportunities that are unique to us that you don’t see in the secular world: weekly Chapel, Missions paid time off to go serve in our community, and the highlight of the year—Day of Sharing.
Day of Sharing is the first Saturday in October, and it allows us as employees of CCM to get together across the nation and serve our local communities as a way to give back. This annual observance started in 2017 as a way to celebrate our 25th anniversary and has blossomed into a much-loved event.
There have been some hiccups over the past six years; 2020, the year that never seemed to end, saw more outdoor opportunities come about in those states that had heavier COVID restrictions in place, a hurricane postponed the Melbourne celebration in 2022, but each year has grown stronger and 2023 was no exception.
About 200 CCM employees, alongside their family, friends, and church groups, participated in the 6th annual Day of Sharing. Our Colorado Springs teams worked with COSILoveYou throughout the area donating blood, working with kids, and helping with other needs in the community. In Melbourne, Fla., teams packed lunches for Children’s Hunger Project, helped stock shelves for Love INC, and did lawn care for local churches, to name a few of the service opportunities.
Rebecca, one of our team captains for the Nana’s House team had this to say about the day: “It was a blessing to serve and lead the team at Nana’s House to help with the clothing for the Thrift Shop. We thought we were going to sort clothes and were ready, but when we got there the plans changed. They asked us to bag up all the clothes because they wanted to start fresh and new.
“At first, as the team captain, I didn’t think this was a very rewarding or hard task, almost like we were getting off easy. I then stepped back and saw how important and helpful this was for the leader from Nana’s House, the fact that these 100+ bags of clothes were going to homeless people, and the connection that was made for me personally to continue to serve there twice a month to help keep things organized throughout the year. It was a great reminder of how something that might be so small to you may be a huge blessing and gift to someone else.”
(Check out the carousel of pictures below!)
What makes this day even more special is the opportunity to invite our children to join us in serving. It’s been said for generations that the children are our future, and it is through days like this we are able to help shape that future to be ever brighter.
This village had the opportunity to come around the children who joined in, teaching them about the love of Christ and how we show that love by serving others. It instills in them what it means to be a Christian and give back to their community.
There is something about being out in the community you call home, interacting with others who live there, and knowing that you are there to brighten their lives, even if it is only for a moment. There are so many references in the Bible (Mark 12:31, James 2:8, and 1 John 3:11 to name just a few) about loving our neighbors, being good neighbors, and above all, living well and peaceably with those around us.
One of the Melbourne location workers at Walk on Water Ministries had this to say: “CCM has helped to make our physical environment beautiful for all who come, but more so they have imparted the spirit of the living God onto our ranch, leaving the peace that surpasses all understanding.” Day of Sharing happened to coincide with their annual Fall Fest and the team that went there helped set up and work that event.
The world we live in now can be a rather terrifying place. There is so much that has happened, or is happening, it feels like we cannot escape hearing about something horrific in some part of the world. It’s events like Day of Sharing that allow us to be the light for those who need it.
While I have been at CCM for five years now, this was my first opportunity to participate in Day of Sharing, and I wish I had sooner. There is a peace that comes with serving, but it feels exponential when serving alongside others. I challenge you to create your own opportunities to serve your community. Whether that is being more active in your church, volunteering in the local soup kitchen, or even getting a group together for your own Day of Sharing.
Do you have a place you love to volunteer or have done so recently? Tell us in the comments to encourage others!
Comments