Faith that becomes service
From its beginnings, the Church has understood that loving God means loving our neighbour in concrete ways. Jesus healed the sick, fed the crowds, touched lepers and defended the despised. In the parable of the last judgment he identified himself with the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the imprisoned: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40). That is why, on every continent, churches and Christian organisations serve millions of people regardless of creed, origin or status.
“If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
James 2:15-17
A history of charity
Christian compassion transformed the ancient world. The first believers shared their goods so that no one among them was in need (Acts 4:34) and organised help for widows (Acts 6). During epidemics in the Roman Empire, many Christians cared for the sick whom others abandoned. In the fourth century Basil of Caesarea founded a large complex to care for the sick and poor, regarded as a forerunner of hospitals. In the Middle Ages monasteries took in pilgrims, orphans and the sick. In the following centuries believers of many traditions founded schools, universities, orphanages and hospitals, fought slavery and promoted social reform. The Red Cross, for example, was founded in 1863 on the initiative of Henry Dunant, a man of deep Christian faith.
Areas of church service today
Food: community kitchens, food banks, soup pots and child nutrition programmes. Health: mission hospitals, rural clinics, medical brigades, care for people with HIV, tuberculosis or neglected diseases, and support for the terminally ill. Education: schools in poor areas, literacy programmes, scholarships and vocational training. Humanitarian aid: response to earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and wars, with water, shelter, food and medical care. Migrants and refugees: shelters, legal guidance, accompaniment and support to start again. Addictions: rehabilitation centres and support groups. Child protection: homes, foster care and prevention of abuse and exploitation. Justice and dignity: fighting human trafficking, defending human rights and accompanying victims. Reconciliation: mediation in conflicts and peace processes. Care for creation: clean water, reforestation and sustainable farming projects.
Some Christian organisations with global reach
Among many others, humanitarian work is carried out by Caritas Internationalis (the Catholic Church’s network in more than 160 countries), Catholic Relief Services, Norwegian Church Aid, Samaritan’s Purse, World Vision, Compassion International, World Relief, Tearfund, ACT Alliance (a network of Protestant and Orthodox churches) and the welfare programmes of various denominations. In the field of Scripture, the United Bible Societies and Wycliffe work so that every people may have the Bible in its own language. Many of these organisations work with local churches, which know their community’s needs first-hand. You can read recent examples in our Good news section.
The local church: the first place of service
Beyond the large organisations, most Christian service happens in the neighbourhood church: the woman who takes food to a sick neighbour, the youth group that paints an elderly lady’s house, the pastor who walks with a grieving family, the congregation that opens its doors as a shelter in an emergency. In Colombia and throughout Latin America, parishes and evangelical congregations run community kitchens, accompany victims of conflict, support migrants and offer safe spaces for children and young people. Every act of love, however small it seems, reflects Christ.
Serving without distinction
Authentic Christian aid does not make service conditional on conversion. Jesus healed ten lepers although only one came back to thank him (Luke 17:11-19). Responsible Christian organisations serve all people equally, respect their dignity and freedom, and at the same time do not hide the faith that motivates them. The Gospel is proclaimed in words and in deeds, and freely given love is itself a testimony.
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?”
Isaiah 58:6-7
How you can take part
Pray for those who suffer and those who serve. Serve in your local church: ask what ministries of help exist and offer your time and talents. Give generously to reputable, transparent organisations; find out how they use their resources. Volunteer at a community kitchen, hospital, shelter or school programme. Open your home to someone who needs company or a meal. Use your profession: doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers and craftspeople can give great service. Share stories that inspire others; you can send us your church’s work through Contact.
Service that transforms the one who serves
Serving not only blesses the one who receives but transforms the one who gives. Jesus said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Many believers testify that they met Christ in a new way in the face of the poor, the sick or the migrant. Service frees us from selfishness, makes us grateful and teaches us to see every person as someone created in God’s image.
A prayer for churches that serve
Lord Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve, bless the churches and organisations that feed, heal, teach and accompany in your name. Strengthen the volunteers, provide the resources they need and protect those who work in dangerous places. Open my eyes to see my neighbour and my hands to serve them. May the world see your love in our works. Amen.
Serving with transparency and dignity
Christian service should be done with excellence and honesty. Paul organised a collection for the poor in Jerusalem and made sure everything was done transparently, “providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (2 Corinthians 8:21). Today that means accounting for the use of resources, protecting the privacy and dignity of the people served, avoiding photos or stories that humiliate them, and working with communities, not just for them. The best help is the kind that strengthens people so they can move forward on their own.
Current challenges
Churches today face great challenges: the rising number of people displaced by war and climate, which exceeds a hundred million worldwide according to the United Nations; persistent hunger in many regions; the loneliness of older people in cities; addictions; and violence against women and children. In the face of these realities, collaboration among churches of different traditions, organisations and authorities is increasingly needed. When Christians serve together, they give a more powerful testimony of the unity Christ asked of the Father.
Stories that inspire
A few examples show the reach of Christian service. In India, Amy Carmichael rescued hundreds of girls from exploitation in temples in the early twentieth century. In Calcutta, Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity cared for the dying abandoned on the streets. In the United States, Pastor Martin Luther King Jr. led the struggle for civil rights out of his faith. In South Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. And in countless towns and neighbourhoods around the world, anonymous believers keep serving every day without seeking recognition. Their lives remind us that true faith is shown in love. Every believer can be part of this story, starting today with one concrete act of service.
If your church has a ministry of service you would like to share, write to us: we would love to tell its story here and encourage others to follow its example.
Every community of faith, large or small, can be a light in its neighbourhood and city when it lets itself be guided by the love of Christ. The needs are great, but so is the grace of God.
Remember too that serving begins by looking around you: perhaps the neighbour who needs help lives on your own street. Start there, with prayer and a simple act of kindness.
God sees every act of love done in his name.