What is new with Table Talk?
We started a new Table Talk series covering all six of Feed the Need Missions’ core values: Jesus, Consistency, Stewardship, Servant Leadership, Mercy, and Simplicity. Last week, we visited Bastrop South to see how the volunteers see the core value of simplicity playing out at their site. This week, we visited Lexington to discuss servant leadership.
Week 5: Servant Leadership, Lexington Site
We must always approach our roles with an attitude of service. We are not there to be served but to serve others in a way that is contagious so that none may boast of their own achievements.
Jesus talked about the importance of service in Matthew 20:26-28: “On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
We asked everyone to think about the roles they have served in at the site and how they can lead others while they serve. The goal of this week was to get everyone thinking about how our words and actions matter in everything we do–someone is always watching.
Here’s some of what our Lexington volunteers had to say about how Table Talk has impacted them personally and how it’s impacting their site.
Tynan
The whole idea of servant leadership revolves around the attitude of service to others. Even Jesus’ time on earth was spent in the service of others: washing feet, teaching, healing, and simply helping. Tynan spoke about how serving others at the site each week is a reflection of God. “The simplicity of this whole operation, yeah it’s a lot of work—and it’s hot, but at the end of the day, nothing we did out here compares to what He did for us on the cross. So, if we can bring His message to our guests through our hard work and service, that demonstrates just a small piece of what Jesus did for us.”
Tynan often comes to the site straight from getting off work or heading to work. He talked about why it is important for him to be consistent each week. “Coming here every Tuesday is part of my routine. No matter if I can only come for a short time and cook, help set up, or help on the line that’s the little piece I give in service to others as a demonstration of what Jesus did for all of us.”
Megan
Megan shared how serving others at the site each week impacts her daily life. “Servant Leadership has brought me closer to Jesus. I’m a very shy person, so being around the volunteers and the guests and helping new people learn the process of the site has really brought me out of my shell and made me more confident in interacting with people.”
When you serve consistently, you get to see the changes happening around you. Whether it is the guests or the volunteers (or both), you witness God moving. “Guests come here week after week with prayer requests, and it’s really cool to see those requests being answered or shifted to lesser needs. It’s also neat to see guests go from resisting talking about Jesus to asking questions. I’ve also seen this happen with volunteers.”
Megan shared how simply wearing a Feed the Need Missions shirt out of state opened the door to invite others into what we are doing. “I was recently in Oklahoma, and I was wearing my Feed the Need shirt, and several times, I had someone ask me what it was. So, I had some cool moments where I got to share about the mission.”
Savannah
Savannah is one of our teen volunteers who recently graduated high school. She shared with us how servant leadership has impacted her life. “Servant Leadership, for me, is stepping out of my comfort zone and stepping up to teach others how to share the gospel and how to serve the site well. It’s also an act of faithfulness, and showing others how you serve God through the simplest things.”
“I feel like people see me because I’m young and say, ‘If she can do it, I can do it.’ I was in a place where I didn’t want to pray with people or even talk to people, I was happy just being on the line. But someone pushed me out of my comfort zone, and now I get to push others out of their comfort zones and show them that it’s going to be okay. God’s got it. Because I was pushed to do more, I’ve been able to grow really strong bonds with the people here through prayer, and they’ve inspired me by some of the hardships they’ve had to go through, and I’ve been able to pray for them and watch them grow.”
Savannah has a challenge for each of us: “Get out of your comfort zone! God doesn’t want you to be comfortable—you’ll witness so many other things if you just move. So, I want to encourage others to just GO! Go be uncomfortable and watch God move.”
At our weekly sites, you walk side by side with people, which allows you to see the needs. Table Talk helps you build and strengthen your relationship with God, and when you consistently work on your faith walk, that begins to overflow into your community.
If you have never been to a site, we encourage you to check it out. Feel free to hang around for Table Talk to experience it for yourself, and if you feel compelled, stay and volunteer. The beauty of our time around the table is that you not only spend time with the Lord but also get to encourage others on their spiritual journey.
We hope to see you at one of our weekly sites soon!