LOCAL MISSIONS
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce… But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare (Jeremiah 29:4–5, 7 ESV).
At Providence, we talk a lot about how our local church is like an embassy and we are Christ’s ambassadors. We live in a land that is not our own because our citizenship is in heaven. We also are His ambassadors, living our lives to represent Christ in the places where He’s sent us.
Does this mean we don’t need to care about the city because this isn’t our true home? By no means!
We believe that we are called to seek the good of our city—praying for its flourishing, working for its good, and serving the community. Why? Not because this is our ultimate home but because we belong to Christ and He has entrusted us with the responsibility of representing Him here.
There are many ways to serve our local community. Below we have a starter pack of ideas for you and or your City Group to engage in each month.
To read an in-depth overview of the opportunities below, check out our Local Missions Starter Pack download. It has links, who to contact, how to sign up, logistics on who can serve, and more.
QUICK OVERVIEW OF OPPORTUNITIES
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Volunteering in Place
OPEN DOOR MISSION
Open Door Mission’s Volunteer in Place program lets you and your group contribute from home, school, work, or wherever is convenient. Some popular examples of their program include making sack lunches, creating hygiene comfort kits, crafting fleece blankets, and more. Check out the full list of ways to help here.
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Diaper Wrapping
NEBRASKA DIAPER BANK
This is a great event for a whole group! Volunteers work together to wrap diapers for distribution to those in need. For individuals or groups up to 15 people, join one of the open diaper wrap sessions. For large groups of 16-30 people, contact the organization directly. -
Food Prep and Service
OPEN DOOR MISSION
Open Door Mission has a multitude of service opportunities such as sorting donated goods, stocking shelves, preparing food for Lunch or Dinner service, or serving food. Head to their website to sign up for a date. -
Build a Bed
SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE
Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to make sure that “no kid sleeps on the floor in our town.” Volunteers, under the guidance of Sleep in Heavenly Peace Chapter team members, build bunks in an assembly line setup. Search for an event near you to sign up. -
VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES
inCOMMON
inCommon is committed to strengthening neighborhoods by investing in both community life and individual growth. There are lots of areas to volunteer, from Soccer Club to Education Classes to Trash Pick up and more. Check out the Local Missions Starter Pack for specifics on opportunities and who to contact.
Want more information on how to volunteer with the groups above? Click on the link below to download our in-depth Local Missions Starter Pack, with who to contact, how to sign up, and details on serving.