By: Cissy Vernon
My experience volunteering at the freeze night shelter was memorable for many reasons but two in particular have given me pause for thought.
I volunteered for the clean-up crew which involved wiping down the tables, cleaning and folding up the cots, sweeping the floors, gathering the blankets for washing, etc. When I arrived at the church, this work was being quickly taken care of by several of our guests! I was blown away by their gratitude and willingness to help out.Â

Since our guests had done much of the work, I grabbed a broom and started sweeping the floor. While I was sweeping, I chatted with some of the guests. We shared stories and common experiences. I learned that one of the fellows had a relative who was a prominent figure at one of the hospitals in my home town. He told me his last name which coincidentally happened to be my grandmother’s maiden name. My grandmother and her sister, my aunt, were both nurses in my home town. My cousin, who had the same first name as this fellow, was a doctor in my home town. After that conversation, I felt pretty sure that this fellow was my cousin!
But whether we are related or not, we are all connected. We are all sisters and brothers in Christ. I wonder now, how will I react if I happen to see one of my unhoused brothers or sisters standing on the corner asking for help? Hopefully, God will guide me.
Welcome to our new blog series exploring the spiritual impact of service! We often discover God's presence in unexpected ways while serving our neighbors. We invite you to join us on this journey of faith and service as we share stories of transformation and discover the profound ways God moves through our acts of compassion.
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