My favorite part of my job is getting to sit down and hear every volunteer’s story. I love hearing about people’s relationships with Jesus, their story, how God brought them to YFC, and why they care about being in relationship with kids.

The question “What gifts do you have that you bring to ministry?” is my favorite to ask. Some people respond spiritually and talk about how they are evangelists or have the gift of prophecy, but most people give me answers like “I like to teach people how to cook” or “I am a Grandma and want to be a Grandma to kids.” Often the people that downplay their gifts the most are the ones that kids gravitate towards and end up being rockstar long-term volunteers.

It is overwhelming to see how God provides for us. He provides for the kids by sending us the most amazing people. Our staff and volunteers recruit other leaders, but we really see how God calls people when someone we’ve never met completes our online volunteer interest form. I have amazing conversations with people who, despite no previous involvement, speak YFC’s “language.” 

In those moments it is evident that God facilitated this person’s movements so that I would have this conversation with them on this day, and then they would go on to be in relationship with the exact young person God had in mind for them. Then we all get to sit with these volunteers in trainings and meetings and learn from their life experience.

It has made my view of God so big and so intricate. Every time I hear someone’s story  I get to see God through that person’s perspective. Then I get to use that perspective to see the young people we serve. The face I see when I think about God has changed and evolved to incorporate all of these people’s stories.

Whenever I hear the stories of how God has worked in people’s lives, it refreshes me and gives me new hope for young people that we serve. I have so many conversations with new volunteers where I think, “Wow. I want them to meet THAT kid. THAT kid that no one on my team knows what to do with. God loves THAT kid so much he sent this volunteer for them.” 

When I start to question what fruit is coming out of our ministry, or I get too comfortable with ministry as a job, I am encouraged and corrected through a great conversation with a new volunteer. It shows how this is ultimately God’s work, He is providing all of it, and His vision is even bigger than what anyone could imagine!