The habit of service or "service-bug," as it is sometimes called, is not new to me. As a missionary's kid, it was always an exciting time when Nazarene W&W teams would come to Chile and help build churches and parsonages in that country. As a small child, I naturally thought they were coming just to visit me, especially if it was a return visit.

Many years have passed since my childhood in South America. In that time, I have worked alongside countless volunteers on projects across the world. I have often asked myself, "What would make a person give of their time and resources to go and serve others?" I am reminded though of a basic tenant of our faith that I learned in Sunday School: there is no way that we can earn our way into heaven. Ephesians 2: 8-9 says, "For by grace ye are saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" (KJV). With that notion in mind, you might ask further questions: Why do people go on Work and Witness trips, if their salvation is not dependent on their service? Why do we spend our own money to fix someone else's house? Why do those who do it once, often go back to serve again and again?

None of these questions are hard to answer. It is only through the blood of our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that we gain entrance into heaven and our Work and Witness is an outpouring of His grace in our lives. The "want to" is more a reflection of Him than of us. Perhaps the more difficult question to answer is, "How could a Christian not make a habit of serving others?" More than any specialized skill, a willing heart is all that is required.

Furthermore, serving has become easier; our world is closer today than ever. We wake up in the morning and turn on our television or log on to the Internet to see what has been happening around the world, while we were sleeping. In less than two hours, we can travel from Kansas City to almost any city in the United States. The world is almost at our fingertips. Traveling is easier today than it ever has been. In just five minutes, I can book a flight to anywhere in the world using my iPhone. The world is literally at our fingertips!!!

Serving through Work and Witness has changed over the years.. It began as "Men in Missions," but that title didn't last long, as many women also caught the "service bug." In years past, most teams were sent out of the US. Now teams are coming to America from overseas to do Work and Witness. We are living in very exciting times with new opportunities all around us to serve. As Nazarenes who are called to "Make Christ-like disciples," we are living out the calling, and we are doing it often. Still, some remain reluctant.

If God has planted your church in your community, He wants it to grow! A church can not grow by taking care of only its needs. We must "go" and turn our focus onto others. We should allow His Grace to pour out of us and touch the lives of people who we may have never met and may never meet again. That is what the Gospel is all about, and Work and Witness is a vehicle that can do just that. I would encourage you to think about what project you and your church would like to participate in next year. We have over 85 projects in the US & Canada that need a team. With so many projects, you could probably find one that is less than a day's drive from your church. We might even have one in your own back yard.

Check out our website at www.workandwitness.org and search all of our projects. If after looking and praying you still can not decide where God wants your church to go, I would ask that you pray about joining us on one of our Work & Witness "Focus" projects for 2011. We are working with the Southwest Latin America District and the Indianapolis District on several key projects that are important to their districts' growth. These two projects could not look more different: one is centered in southern Arizona; the other in one of our largest cities, but the needs are still the same. We simply need Godly men and women and teens of any and every skill level, who are willing to be used by God to help make Christ-like disciples.

Won't you consider serving with us? This is not something that you will do just once. Because Work and Witness is often habit forming, I anticipate seeing your smiling face on the jobsite over and over again. But start out by trying it once. It is indeed exciting to be used by God!

George Sisler
USA/Canada
Work & Witness
Coordinator