This time of year can get pretty busy for me. There is more planning, more travelling, and it feels like my ‘norm’ doesn’t return until January 1st. The past few weeks have felt particularly draining. I read the news and feel like a small fish in a big, big ocean. It can be easy for me to feel swallowed up by everything going on around us. But with Christmas fast approaching, I am reminded of hope. The holiday spirit brings out the best in people. The holidays are a reminder of just where our hope is found.

There is a hope for the future that grows in our communities as people are in service to one another. I am privileged to work alongside churches, designing websites that get people connected and engaged in ministry. And I think that’s one of the most meaningful ways we can show love in a broken world.

10 examples of churches doing a great job communicating service opportunities

1. Capo Beach Church uses a ‘Serve’ link on their homepage to direct site visitors to a list of opportunities. Filters make it easy to search by category and date. ‘Featured Opportunities’ highlight fast approaching events, or areas in need of more volunteers.

2. Recreate Church quickly captures information from people who are interested in volunteering. The homepage has an  ‘I’m Ready to Serve’ call-to-action button, directing site visitors to a form so they can be contacted.

This list uses a tailored Articles e360 Theme Layout to show a filterable list and highlight Featured Opportunities.

Calls-to-action create momentum. Make sure to use clearly directed content and capture contact information from site visitors who are interested in volunteering.

3. Faith Bible Church has a focused ‘Next Steps’ feature on their custom homepage, laying out critical ways to get involved. The ‘Serve’ button takes the site visitor to a full listing of volunteer opportunities.

This uses the e360 Theme Layout - Volunteer Opportunities 1.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.

Romans 12:1

4. Mill City Church is a neighborhood-focused church in Northeast Minneapolis. They partner with a number of local organizations who are passionate about restoring the community. A homepage rotator directs the site visitor to a listing of partnerships and links to get involved.

5. Revolution Church teaches a “Gifts and Serving” class designed to “to help you discover how God has gifted you to use your gifts to serve others.” Their custom Volunteer page provides a full listing of service opportunities based on ministry, and skill.

6. The youth at Grace Church of Normal, Illinois recently served their “Senior Saints,” by raking leaves. Great job, Grace youth! 

The service opportunity was set up as an Event and highlighted on the homepage rotator.

7. Mount Pleasant Christian Church (created by our friends at Fishhook) keeps service front-and-center within their navigation. They use captivating images within their ‘Serve’ menu to give us a taste even before clicking. Once on a Serve page, site visitors can easily search through listings of opportunities within the church, the community and the world.

The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:40

8. Island Evangelical Community Church also uses a call-to-action right on the homepage to help visitors “Get Involved.” Full-width background images create a scrolling story-like Serve page that provides brief information and a contact link for ministry based, local, and global opportunities.

9. Grace Covenant Church shares “GCC Volunteer of the Week” stories on their Twitter and Instagram accounts. What a great way to celebrate your team!

Custom feeds were created to display the latest tweets and shared images right on their homepage.

Sharing personal stories is a good way to make volunteering relatable and more interesting. Help energize people who are looking to be part of something bigger.

10. Fellowship Little Rock’s custom Serve page provides a full listing of opportunities to serve within the church. Site visitors can filter by campus and ministry. The page also features call-to-action buttons directing site visitors to serve with the Missions Team.

This is a great way to cross-pollinate. Placing Missions Team info on the Serve page is a natural progression that helps site visitors discover more relevant content and create deeper involvement.

These are just a few examples of how churches are communicating service opportunities. Your church can share service opportunities just as easily -- and I hope you do! When we are united in prayer and love to our communities and the world, that is a powerful testimony. I hope this list has inspired new ways to creatively use your church website to promote service. Providing information about service opportunities can be one of the most beneficial things you do. Do you have any examples to add? Let us know in the comments.