“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

 Ephesians 2:8-9

As I continue to learn more about NeighborLink, one key concept continues to jump out at me through conversations with everyone involved in the organization. It is somewhat of a "no-brainer", but in today’s society it often tends to get overlooked. Brett, a NL board member, paraphrased this concept well by saying: 

“It’s all about building the relationships, not the works.” 

Often times, we can enter a service project with the mental attitude of crossing it off our personal checklist. A good deed accomplished and that is all. Maybe you have caught yourself going to help at a food bank and left without knowing the owner’s name or getting to know the story of those who are impacted by the services.

I know I have caught myself with a “one-and-done” attitude by entering into a volunteer space and leaving feeling proud of the task I just accomplished. The question is, did I truly engage with the people around me (fellow volunteers or those being served)? Sometimes I can say that I did, and unfortunately, I can also say that I did not. 

Recently Andrew asked if I would compile bios for all those involved in the NeighborLink team. Upon hearing this request I asked for several general information from each member, but the last question I asked was, "What do you love about NeighborLink?" and in almost every response I had people mention how much they appreciated the opportunity to serve in pracitical, hands-on, one-to-one situations. The focus is always on the people.

I am learning that it is all about my intentions and my desire to show Christ’s love to others through positive interactions. In the big scheme of things, going into a service opportunity with an open heart and the love of Christ is all that matters. NeighborLink embraces the idea of connecting neighbors with eachother to build a positive Fort Wayne community. You can go into a project with the intent to help a fellow neighbor and leave the space with a new friend.  How beautiful is that?

Holly Durkee, PR Intern