Part of a series ‘Voices of Volunteers from Around Australia’.
Sarah Kuswadi: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and the volunteering that you are involved in?
Laura Oh: I’m a passionate fifty-three-year-old Italian gal who married a fun, loving Taiwanese man, Chris. We are blessed with three adult children and two sons-in-law. I grew up in Italy, in an evangelical Brethren church in our hometown. My father was one of the key founders and elders of the church. My mother served in women’s and children’s ministries and often cooked and cleaned for people in need. I observed my parents’ involvement: witnessing in the streets and often welcoming people into our home with a warm meal and the gospel at hand.
I also witnessed the church community help us. There were times when Mum didn’t have the money to feed our family. Dad struggled to find work and often we would have a bowl of cornflakes for every meal. I witnessed our church family dropping off bags of groceries and Mum in tears receiving the practical love from faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.
Volunteering in my church is a natural response to God and an important blessing to me. We have attended Providence City church for over two years and both of us are involved in serving. One of the things that Chris and I have always done is open our home for ministry. We host growth group once a week; a monthly prayer and support group; young adults suppers once a month; and we organise social events such as board game or movie nights.
We also help with coordinating our church morning tea. This is a logistical challenge, as we meet at a school and access to a kitchen and indoor eating space is difficult. However, we have a truly committed food and set up team who ensure we have delicious food and strong hot coffee, which, more importantly, encourages warm and welcoming conversations.
Why did you get involved in volunteering in this way and what have you found encouraging from volunteering here?
A sense of belonging is important to me. I see belonging as foundational to a strong, loving community, where evangelism, discipleship and mentoring happens. I have experienced this myself, in my childhood, youth and young adult years. I have felt the benefits of it and I am passionate about facilitating this powerful and much-needed experience.
Serving in any capacity within my church has helped me grow friendships, grow in faith and given me opportunities to bless others and be blessed in return. In volunteering we also set an example for our children, who are now all volunteering within their church community and beyond.
I am deeply encouraged when I see people connecting, laughing, sharing stories and building relationships over a cuppa and a simple plate of food. It warms my heart when our home is filled with the laughter and chatter of fifty young adults. It is a blessing to be with friends, sharing our stories, listening to and accepting each other’s vulnerability, praying for one another and nutting out God’s word in very real and practical ways.
My hope is to show a variety of ways Christians volunteer around Australia. What would you want to share with others about how volunteering has changed your life?
Firstly, our churches need us. I understand that volunteering often comes at a cost, however it also fills us with joy. It is a joy that God meant for us to experience as we serve others.
Serving at church is part of my life, it’s part of who I am. As I serve, I too have been blessed by others’ love and care. Serving in church forces you to meet and interact with people, and do life together; it builds community.
The young adults supper nights that we host are both intimidating and awesome. Intimidating because, for me, hanging out with twenty-year-olds is like learning a new language! It’s awesome because their energy and passion for Christ and for life is inspiring.
Serving at church is part of my obedience to Christ. For me it has fostered an ‘other-person-centred’ attitude, where I stop focusing on my needs and my problems and redirect my focus and care to others.
Can you tell us about some things that you have learnt recently in your volunteering role?
There is a season for everything, a season to serve and a season to rest. I have learnt that rest and reassessing my motivations for serving is important. Some time ago, I got caught up in serving in my own capacity, driven by self-centred needs, which led me to burnout. I was forced to rest, and in that time I did a lot of soul-searching. I learnt my limitations and strengths. More importantly I learnt, and am continuing to learn, to lean into the Holy Spirit’s guidance for every aspect of my life.
Is there a Bible verse that you often come back to for encouragement?
Matthew 22 verses 37 to 39 is a special passgage to me:
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Our love for God is a response to his great love for us. It must be genuine in action, in thought and in spirit. It is this genuine love for God that equips us to love our neighbour. This commandment is foundational to all that we do for Christ’s glory.
