Local Outreach

Jesus said, "...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45). Jesus also said, "...As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." (John 20:21).

SO DO THE MATH...
If Jesus was sent to serve and we're sent like Jesus, then we are sent to serve.

How do we serve? In a thousand different ways. The Bible instructs us to use whatever gifts we're given to serve others, "...faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." (1 Peter 4:10). So the modes of service are as varied as the myriad of gifts and skills we possess. If you have a talent, a strength, a capacity, you have a tool for service.

One way to categorize all our gifts is under the broad headings of "speaking gifts" and "serving gifts." As the Bible says, "Those who speak, speak as if communicating the very words of God. Those who serve, serve in the strength that God provides." (1 Peter 4:11). Speaking and serving - word and deed - these are our primary modes of serving others. Jesus was an expert at both. The Bible says that he was powerful in word and deed. And collectively, as a church, we also need to be powerful in both.

When it comes to us as individuals, chances are we major in one area or the other. Some are speakers, some are servers. Yet, "speakers" may roll up their sleeves and serve. And, a "server" may speak instead to share their faith. We each have our gifts. And whatever your's is, we want to help you "faithfully administer God's grace" to those in need.

We are blessed to live in a community that has many organizations that exist to serve those in need. It is our philosophy to partner with organizations that are serving well. We have varying levels of relationships with many of these organizations and look to further build on these partnerships. Our desire is to not only provide financial resources, but people resources as well. From mentoring to painting, our desire is to see everyone at Willowdale serving the community with the gifts God has given them.

Our Local Partners

If you are interested in getting involved at the local level, please review the quick descriptives of our local partners below and contact Jim Conkle, our Community Service Director, at JConkle@willowdalechapel.org.

The Garage exists to help local youth reach their potential scholastically, emotionally and spiritually. Our strategy is to partner with local schools, churches, community members and organizations to provide support, programs, and relationships for our students.
Good Neighbors exists to make homes warmer, dryer,and safer. Homeowners living in poverty can qualify to have needed repairs done. Much of the material cost is covered through grants and donors; while the labor is provided through volunteer efforts. Willowdale holds at least one work day a quarter at a Good Neighbors work site.
From teaching English as a second langue to helping with citizenship issues, Chester County Migrant Ministries exists to love the local migrants in our area; a local population that, through the efforts of Migrant Ministries, has not been forgotten or left without a voice. We have at least two furniture and bed drives annually to help assist Migrant Ministries in their mission.
Young Life delivers the good news of Jesus Christ to adolescents with an approach that is respectful of who kids are and hopeful about who they can be. Our own Chad Weldon leads a team of young people who eagerly bring the Gospel to Unionville High School students. Throughout the year and through various opportunities, Willowdale is a committed supporter of the Young Life ministry.
Campus Crusade for Christ International is a network of vibrant, growing movements on 1,029 campuses in the United States and beyond. Proven and diverse outreach strategies expose millions of students to the Gospel each year. Over the past five years, more than 37,900 students have made the choice of Christianity. Our own Steve Baker heads up the efforts of Campus Crusade in the Philadelphia region.