Why We Need To Be Equipped To Serve

My first real job was bussing tables. It wasn’t a glamorous job and it didn’t pay much, but it was a job, and I needed money to buy a car so I took it. On my first day of work I didn’t clean any tables or stack any dishes, I sat in front of a T.V. and watched training videos. I learned proper hand washing techniques and company policy. After watching six hours of videos I was sent home and told to come back again the next day. On day two, I was given a name tag, a tour of the hotel, and shown where the employee lockers were. Then, the manager taught me the dress code, explained how to properly wear an apron, and walked me through the kitchen to familiarize me with their methods and standards. She taught me how to properly clear a table and sanitize it for the next guest. When she was done, she told me to come back the next day for more training. I thought all the training was crazy because all I was doing was busing tables and how hard could it be? 

I returned two days later, put my personal belongings in the locker, strapped on my apron, anticipating going to work. When I finished putting on my uniform, the manager looked at me, made a few adjustments to my apron, and then introduced me to the servers. She told the lead server to have me follow him around for the night to see what he did. All I did the entire night was shadow him, watch him interact with customers, and clear tables. On my fourth day of work, I finally bussed my first table. What I didn’t recognize or appreciate at the time, was the value of training. I thought all I was doing was clearing tables and bringing dirty dishes to the kitchen; but

At Freshwater we believe that you will enjoy serving more if you are equipped to do what you are called to do. That is why we have developed leadership streams for every ministry. A leadership stream is an intentional, systematic method of equipping you to do what you feel led to do. Over the course of the year each ministry stream is designed to equip you in the following ways:

1. Make sure you know where to find the resources you need.
2. Share who you need to go to when you have questions.
3. Explain what is expected of you when you serve.
4. Include you on the team so you feel supported and included.
5. Give you the opportunity to voice concerns, provide new ideas, and present solutions.
6. Provide the feedback you need to grow as a person, in your ministry role, and as a leader.

Even though I only worked as a busboy for a short period of time when I was sixteen, I still clear and sanitize my table at home the same way I was taught way back then. In the same way we are committed to equipping you, encouraging you, and empowering you so that you can feel confident that you are making a significant kingdom impact whether you serve at Freshwater for the next 20 years or someplace else.

If you are new to Freshwater and don’t currently serve in any way, I want to encourage you to take the next step in your faith and get involved. I’m not asking you to get involved because we have a huge volunteer shortage right now, because we don’t. I’m asking you to start serving because it will help you to go deeper in your faith and impact others in Jesus name. We will equip you, encourage you, and empower you to do what God is leading you to do. We do this because we are committed to making healthy disciples who in turn make more healthy disciples. This is our biblical mandate and present reality.