Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically as something done for the Lord and not for men.  Col 3:23

So often in life, sufficient finances are necessary to establish a thriving, enduring, and successful operation. While there certainly are various ways to pursue this goal, Proverbs 19:21 makes clear that there are many plans of men, but it is God’s purpose that prevails. What’s more, wouldn’t it be wonderful to live that truth and one day hear the Lord speak the rewarding words of Matthew 25:21: “Well done, my good and faithful servant”? The obvious answer is yes. What, then, can we do to lay aside our own plans and take up God’s purpose—especially as it relates to the practical act of gathering finances for a particular cause? One such way is to take part in a proven Christian-based fund raising instrument called a Serve-A-Thon.

While others choose approaches like walk-a-thons and bike-a-thons, a Serve-A-Thon is a fun raising, fund raising, friend raising investment on the part of those who participate.  Here is a quick 5 step guide toward achieving our serving inheritance.

1) Pick a service that you can perform during a specific SERVE-A-THON weekend or time period. 2) Fill out a Sponsor Pledge Sheet that lists the location, service activity, hours you plan to serve, your name (Server) address, and phone #. 3) Find Sponsors who would be willing to pledge money for your service.  Have the sponsors fill out a line on the pledge sheet, then give them a completed “Thank You” card.  Thank and collect from people (at this time) who are willing to trust you to complete your service.  Money must be returned if your service is not performed. 4) Perform your service during the weekend time promised or time period specified.   Be sure to have a witness sign the bottom of your pledge sheet indicating you completed the service. 5) Collect your pledges from your sponsors.  You must turn in all collected money and sponsor sheets in the pledge packet to the person or persons responsible by a certain date.

We are unlimited in the body of believers as to what service one could choose:  Singing to someone, entertaining somehow, organizing something, cleaning something, improving something, saving something, or moving something only begin the possibilities.

Places and where people gather to serve might include shorelines, parks, group homes, nursing homes, private homes, nature trails, bike paths, homeless shelters, hospitals, schools, libraries, or other special needs establishments.

Potential sponsors are family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, businesses, corporations, people you have sponsored in the past, friends of friends, or yourself.

A couple of sponsoring examples: 1) I volunteer to paint rooms at a homeless shelter for 5 hours. I get 6 people to sponsor me for $2.00 per hour.  My grand total would be $60.00 (5 hours x $2.00 x 6 sponsors) 2) I get permission to read to senior citizens at a nursing home.  I get 15 people to sponsor me for 2 hours at $4.00 per hour, 3 people to sponsor me for 1 hour at $5.00 per hour and 1 person to sponsor me for 1 hour at $10.00 per hour.  My total after collecting would be $145.00 for 2 hours of serving.

The place and number of hours you serve are up to you.  The funds raised depend upon the number of sponsors you find.  Be sure to get permission from the service location, if it’s required.  We encourage youngsters to participate, but advise parents or guardians to monitor all sponsoring contacts because safety and integrity are primary concerns beyond raising money for a good cause.

Family and friends, please note that beyond the spirit and wisdom of the Lord, it takes committed, competent, and honest work on the part of participants for any Serve-A-thon to be truly fruitful. Again, many are the plans of men. We see them promoted and honored everywhere. It was the philosopher, Socrates, who said “Know thy self”; it was the psychologist, Sigmund, Freud who said, “Be thyself”; but it was our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who said to His followers and believers, “GIVE THYSELF.” Now that sounds like something that will prevail!

1 Cor 11:1; 1 Cor 10:31

** Please note that more details about running a Serve-A-Thon follow this introduction.  You are welcome to leave a comment, or question.  If you would like us to contact you, please provide your e-mail address or phone number along with your comment or question.  Thank you!

“Be ye followers of Me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1 Cor 11:1

How can we fulfill this command more completely?

   “The heart of The Servant is here at ___________________________, (description) in a Christ-centered environment!

 

What is it? – A SERVE-A-THON

When is it? – Saturday and Sunday, __________________________

Who is Involved? – The Families of the _______________________ Community.

Why a SERVE-A-THON? – To raise money for our __________________by serving others in a Christ-like manner

How will I learn what to do?  —

1. Kick-Off Meeting

A full explanation at the _________________________

Tuesday Evening, ___________7th, from 6:30-7:30 PM

Presenter:  ______________________ Facilitator

 

2.  Detailed material will be sent home explaining the process

3.  Your youngster will be able to teach you what we are doing.

4.  On line help: www.

5.  Any questions, call ___________ at __________or ________________

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Organization Name

SERVE-A-THON 2014   Following the Example of Christ….

Who Participates?

We are encouraging every family, as a family, to take part in this SERVE-A-THON effort.  Our strength is in our unity and our power is in our act of agreement.

 How to do it

1.  Pick a service that you can perform during SERVE-A-THON weekend of ______________.  If you have trouble thinking of   something to do, please see the suggestions below.

2.  Fill out the top of your Sponsor Pledge Sheet.  Make sure you list the location, service activity, hours you plan to serve, your name (Server) address, and phone #.

3.  Find Sponsors who would be willing to pledge money for your service.  Have the sponsors fill out a line on the pledge sheet, and then give them a completed “Thank You” card.  Thank and collect from people (at this time) who are willing to trust you to complete your service.  Money must be returned if your service is not performed.

4.  Perform your service any time during ______________.  Be sure to have a witness sign the bottom of your pledge sheet indicating you completed the service.

5.  Collect your pledges from your sponsors.  You must turn in all collected money and sponsor sheets in the pledge packet to ______________________ by _____________________.

 Possibilities to Consider

• GIFTS/TALENTS:  Sing to someone, entertain somehow, organize something, clean something, improve something, save something, move something.
  

• PLACES/PEOPLE: Shorelines, parks, group homes, nursing homes, private homes, nature trails, bike paths, homeless shelters, hospitals, schools, libraries, special needs
  

• SPONSORS:  Family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, business or corporation you work for, people you have sponsored in the past, friends of friends, yourself

Sponsoring Examples

• I volunteer to paint rooms at a homeless shelter for 5 hours.  I get 6 people to sponsor me for $2.00 per hour.  My grand total would be $60.00 (5 hours x $2.00 x 6 sponsors)

• I get permission to read to senior citizens at a nursing home.  I get 15 people to sponsor me for 2 hours at $4.00 per hour, 3 people to sponsor me for 1 hour at $5.00 per hour and 1 person to sponsor me for 1 hour at $10.00 per hour.  My total after collecting would be $145.00 for 2 hours of serving.

** The place and number of hours you serve are up to you.  The funds raised depend upon the number of sponsors you find.  Be sure to get permission from the service location, if it’s required.  We encourage youngsters to participate, but advise parents or guardians to monitor all sponsoring contacts.

Questions:  Contact ____________________ or ___________________ at ____________________

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 Sponsor Guide

While others choose approaches like walk-a-thons and bike-a-thons, we at the _______________________are planning a fun raising, fund raising, friend raising SERVE-A-THON to be held the weekend of ______________________ and we’re members of our _________________________ community to enthusiastically help us. We will not only benefit our school in this uniquely Christian way of raising way of raising money, but we will be serving our community as well.  The philosopher, Socrates, said “Know thy self”, the psychologist Sigmund Freud said, “Be thyself”, and Jesus said to His followers and believers, GIVE THYSELF”.

How can you help?  We encourage you to sponsor participants of the ____________________  SERVE-A-THON team who will be serving others — as Christ modeled for us to behave.  They will be offering their GIFTS/TALENTS to others by singing to someone, entertaining somehow, organizing something, cleaning something, fixing something, improving something, saving something, moving something, — in essence — SERVING SOMEONE ELSE.

 SERVERS will find PLACES/PEOPLE to consider serving such as cleaning shorelines, parks, nature trails, bike paths or public buildings, volunteering service/talent/abilities or skills in nursing homes, homeless shelters, hospitals, schools, libraries,  other special need areas — in essence —  FINDING A PLACE AND/OR PEOPLE WHERE A SERVICE IS WELCOMED AND NEEDED.

SPONSORS– THAT’S YOU!!  Please commit to a server an amount of money for a specified number of hours — in essence — BY SERVING AS A SPONSOR, OUR (School Name/Organization) SERVERS WILL BE BLESSED DIRECTLY BY YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND THEY WILL EXPERIENCE THE MUCH NEEDED PRIVILEGE AND HONOR OF SERVING OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL!

 

Any Questions, please contact _________________ or ______________________ at _________________________.

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 HERE’S A CHALLENGE!!

 As far as our Christ-like leadership SERVE-A-THON is concerned, the following activities are not only possible but people (young and old) have already performed them and have already been successfully sponsored to do them!

My special challenge to the ___________________________ parents, students, friends, and staff is to not only be committed to our pioneering effort in the _________________ area, but to come up with your own new and creative ideas of how to become a sponsored server.

Singing to people in a nursing home

Pet sitting

Yard work for a pastor of a church

 Assisting special needs clients on a horse farm

 Reading stories to hospitalized children

 Reading to children at a public library

 Playing games with children in a hospital

 Helping at the Salvation Army

 Serving food at a soup kitchen

 Cleaning a bike path

  Cleaning an area in the Freetown Forest

 Washing cars

 Working at an animal shelter

 Doing house work for an elderly lady

 Yard work at a homeless shelter

 Baking cookies for people

 

__________________ – SERVE-A-THON Facilitator

 

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 WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID ABOUT A…  SERVE-A-THON

 “In a SERVE-A-THON everybody is a winner.”

 Mr. Brent Gilliam, Headmaster Seekonk Christian Academy

  “A SERVE-A-THON helps your school and helps people.”

 Megan Poirier, 4^th Grade Student

 “A SERVE-A-THON allows you to serve God in a fun way.”

 Mr. Keith Burden, Investment Consultant

“A SERVE-A-THON is a double blessing.”

Mrs. Deborah Coleman, Parent

“In a SERVE-A-THON you do things for people to help them.”

 Dana Hammond, 6^th Grade Student

“Pastor John Pfeffer, successfully retired corporate attorney, agrees with me when I credit a“A SERVE-A-THON to be a God idea.”

 Mr. Steven J. Bouley, SERVE-A-THON Coordinator

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WHAT IS A GOOD IDEA?

ONE THAT…

 brings honor and glory to a person or persons

is subject to challenge, somewhat creative – yet limited

usually has an order – not necessarily decent

is exclusive in practical application

is advertised to fit

relies on a marketing source

is brought about by sensory knowledge

brings temporary relief or satisfaction

translates a financial/imagined success

success is predicted

human interference can destroy it

is usually designed as either a general or specific purpose

is generated by a human passion for a specific agenda

takes advantage of a need for profit

brings a dependence upon that product/idea – external hope

* is designed so people can feel better, think better, look better, or be in a better position relative to others – survival in the immediate competitive world – the lesser reality

WHAT IS A HOLY GOD IDEA?

ONE THAT …

 brings honor and glory to Him

is the best, most creative, and unlimited

is ordered and decent

is universally inclusive

is seasonally correct

doesn’t rely on any one person or persons for continuance

is brought forth by revelation knowledge

brings life more abundantly

witnesses to His reality as a Love Being

is anointed to succeed

no human effort can effectively veto

He chooses as a specific or general use

relates to mankind’s spirit, soul, and body

He generates through a willing vessel (child) for the edification of His Body (Grace)

responds to a need (Mercy)

brings hope, enthusiasm, motivation, and positive change (Goodness)

 ** is designed to attract lost souls to His Son, Jesus Christ and into His Kingdom of  Love, Light, Life, Faith, and Truth; the place of everlasting peace and joy

 Temple Ministry in Christ

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SERVE-A-THON EVENT TIME LINE (example)

1. EXPLANATION DATE – LEADERS ( TEACHERS/PARENTS) 10/22
2.  GENERAL MEETING RALLY (3 DAYS) 10/25
3. INDIVIDUAL EFFORT (3 WEEKS) 10/25-11/15
4. INTRO TO ENTIRE CHURCH – FOYER SET UP – 11/15 (SUNDAY)
5. PASTOR COMMITMENT /PRAYER – FOYER PRESENCE 11/22
6. REMINDER PRESENTATION/TESTIMONY  – CONGREGATION LOBBY
7. SERVE-A-THON PERFORMANCE DATES  12/5-6
8. ALL MONEY DUE – COLLECTION DATES – LOBBY COLLECTION 12/13
9. FINAL REPORT TO CHURCH 12/20 – JESUS-TYPE PRESENTATION

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