Start Where You Are
I want to serve
Ways to help that start small and grow as you find your place.
He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.”Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”
In this passage Jesus looks at the crowds and sees how much need there is. You do not have to meet all of it. Start with one thing you can do well.
Start small
Things you can do from home or in a single season.
- Prison & re-entryProvisional
Mentor a prisoner by letter
Crossroads Prison Ministries
Volunteer mentors read a prisoner's completed Bible study lesson, write back with comments and encouragement, and send the next one — all routed through the ministry's address under a pen name. Materials and training are supplied, and mentors work from home anywhere in the world.
- Time
- Weekly rhythm
- Where
- Online
- Area
- Prison & re-entry
Last verified September 8, 2026
- Prison & re-entryVerified
Deliver Christmas presents with Angel Tree
Prison Fellowship
Angel Tree lets a church provide and deliver Christmas presents to children on behalf of their incarcerated parent, given in the parent's name with a message from them. The same organisation runs in-prison academies and re-entry mentoring that need volunteers the rest of the year.
- Time
- One-off
- Where
- United States
- Area
- Prison & re-entry
Last verified September 8, 2026
Serve regularly near you
Ongoing ways to show up for families and neighbors in your own community.
- Benevolence & reliefVerified
Volunteer with a refugee family
World Relief
Local offices place volunteers with newly arrived refugee families for airport welcomes, apartment setup, English practice, and the long, ordinary work of a first year in a new country.
- Time
- Weekly rhythm
- Where
- United States
- Area
- Benevolence & relief
Last verified September 8, 2026
- Orphan & foster careVerified
Host a child before the state has to
Safe Families for Children
Volunteer families take a child in for days or weeks while a parent handles a crisis — hospital stay, housing loss, treatment — with no court involvement and the parent keeping custody throughout. Hosts are interviewed, trained, background-checked, and home-screened much like foster carers.
- Time
- Weeks
- Where
- United States
- Area
- Orphan & foster care
Last verified September 8, 2026
Go further
Bigger commitments that ask for travel, time away, or a particular skill.
- Disaster responseVerified
Deploy with a Samaritan's Purse disaster team
Samaritan's Purse
After hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes, Samaritan's Purse bases an operation at a local church and sends volunteer crews out to tarp roofs, clear trees, and muck out flooded houses for homeowners at no charge. Volunteers sign up per deployment, usually for a week.
- Time
- One-off
- Where
- United States
- Area
- Disaster response
Last verified September 8, 2026
- Local church needsVerified
Join a SOWER project crew
SOWER Ministry
Retired and semi-retired couples with RVs park for three-week projects at Christian camps, schools, children's homes, and mission offices, doing carpentry, plumbing, electrical, painting, and grounds work. Around 170 ministries in the US and Canada host crews.
- Time
- Weeks
- Where
- United States
- Area
- Local church needs
Last verified September 8, 2026