Faith motivates service and in turn service magnifies faith.  Volunteering helps people express their faith in tangible ways.  Research studying Christian faith-motivated volunteers found that regular volunteering has a positive affect on a person’s faith.  (Pew Charitable Trust / Fasten Network, 2003.)

Major finding were:

• Volunteering increases a volunteer’s church involvement to include better church attendance and increased financial giving.
• Volunteering tests and strengthens faith.  Volunteers who participated in community ministry once a week scored higher on measures of faith (generosity, prayer, bible study, witnessing) than congregants who regularly attend services but are not involved in service.
• Volunteers who encounter social, economic, racial, physical or political diversity in their ministry engage more deeply in faith practices over time
• Voluntarily serving others is more effective in strengthening the impact of faith than attending worship services.

Faith is embodied in service in most religions.  Volunteers are both engaged and mobilized in congregations.  There is an expectation wherein volunteers are recruited for specific opportunities and empowered to claim their faith through this service.  If service/ministry/volunteering is the aspiration of believers – connecting individuals to meaningful service opportunities will deepen their conviction.