By Kelly Shaw
Amazon Best-Selling Author
Want to Feel Better? Help Someone Else.
Let’s be honest: we all want to feel like we matter.
Whether we admit it or not, deep down we’re all asking the same question:
“Am I making a difference?”
And here’s the beautiful truth—you don’t have to change the world to change someone’s world.
In fact, one of the fastest, most fulfilling ways to improve your own mental health, increase joy, and gain a sense of purpose is simple:
serve.
And few places do this better—or make it easier—than your local church.
Why Church is a Launchpad for Doing Good
Even if you’re not religious, spiritual, or 100% sure what you believe, church offers a ready-made platform for making a difference—no cape required.
Here’s why church is such a powerful space for inspiring acts of service:
1. Built-In Opportunities to Help Others
Food drives. Backpack giveaways. Visiting the elderly. Building homes. Supporting single parents. Serving meals. Cleaning up neighborhoods.
Churches don’t just talk about love—they live it out.
And they make it easy to get involved. No need to start your own nonprofit or create a GoFundMe—just show up and lend a hand.
2. You’ll Find Purpose Bigger Than Yourself
Let’s face it—spending all our time focused on ourselves gets exhausting. But something magical happens when you shift your energy toward others.
Studies have shown that volunteering regularly reduces stress, boosts mood, and even improves physical health.
(Yes, science officially says being kind is good for you.)
Church gives you a place to serve consistently, meaningfully, and with others who share your heart.
3. It’s Not Just What You Do—It’s Who You Become
The more you serve, the more your character grows.
You start to develop:
✔️ Empathy for people whose stories are different than yours
✔️ Gratitude for what you have
✔️ Confidence in your ability to make an impact
And when you serve alongside others, you also build friendships, community, and shared memories that last a lifetime.
4. It’s Contagious (In the Best Way)
Service has a ripple effect. When you do good, others feel inspired to do the same. Your kindness can lead to a chain reaction that reaches people you may never even meet.
Church helps that ripple start strong—because the goal isn’t just to make people feel good, it’s to transform lives. Including your own.
The Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness in Action
In the Bible, “goodness” isn’t just about being a “nice person.” It’s about doing the right thing—especially when it’s hard.
The Fruit of the Spirit teaches that goodness is something we practice.
It’s active. Intentional. Sometimes messy. Always meaningful.
And the church? It’s where goodness gets feet.
A Challenge for You
Feeling stuck? Lost? Unfulfilled? Maybe what you need isn’t a new job, a new relationship, or a new hobby. Maybe what you really need is a new mission.
Try this: visit a church this week and ask how you can serve.
You don’t have to sign up for a year or even a month—just one day.
Worst-case scenario? You help someone and feel kinda great about it.
Best-case scenario? You discover a joy you didn’t even know you were missing.
Because making a difference doesn’t have to be complicated.
Sometimes, it starts with just showing up.
Let’s Talk!
💬 What’s one simple act of kindness that made a big impact on you? Tell us in the comments!
📌 Know someone who loves serving others? Tag them and say thank you!
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#FindYourPeople #StrongerTogether #ChurchCommunity #RelationshipsMatter #BuiltOnLove #HealingTakesTime #CommunityMatters #KindnessHeals #ChurchIsForEveryone #SafePlaceToHeal#KeepGrowing #FindYourPeace #EncouragementMatters #PatienceInTheProcess #ChurchAndGrowth #SlowDown #LessStressMoreLife #ccv #christchurchofthevalley