Purpose Planning and Scripture

Purpose Statement
Servant Learning Events are mutually empowering opportunities for serving and being served in the mind and manner of Christ.

Objectives

• Create working partnerships of discovery, understanding and appreciation among people of diverse cultures, ages, disabilities, lifestyles and economic situations.
• Stimulate spiritual, emotional and intellectual development.
• Empower and transform lives and communities through service to build God's Kingdom of justice and peace.
• Motivate and equip people for continuing corporate and individual service.

Ten Steps for Planning a Congregational Servant Learning Event

Ask the question: "Why do we want to do this"?
Look at Philippians 2:5-8, Matthew 22:37-40, and Galatians 5:13-14. What does it mean to be a servant?

Assess needs and problems.
Find out what the needs are of your community and in other communities. If possible, meet with local residents and community leaders.

Decide what actions are needed and appropriate.
Consider what kind of service or involvement will have long-lasting positive effects for the individuals involved and for the whole community. What are your goals for the event or project? Are your goals consistent with or complimentary to the existing interests, goals, and efforts in the community?

Decide whether to plan your own servant learning event or participate in one already developed by an ELCA outdoor ministry, social ministry organization or community agency.
If you plan to participate in a project organized by someone else, ask lots of questions:

• Who are the leaders?
• What are the goals and mission of the organization? Who are they affiliated with?
• What activities does the program involve?
• How do they understand the concept of "servanthood"?
• What is the organization's relationship with the community?
• Have the residents and leaders of the host community been involved in the planning and leadership?
• What are the details about housing, meals, transportation, safety, insurance, medical care, cost, and supplies?

Form a leadership team of youth and adults.
These are the people who will plan the details, delegate tasks, and lead the event. Someone from the host community should be included in the planning, or at least consulted and informed every step of the way.

Carefully plan the program, service projects, and details.
Begin planning six months to one year in advance. The program should include Bible study, worship, learning experiences, community building, service, time for reflection and discussion, interaction with local residents, and recreation. Plan service projects that are appropriate for the time you have and the skills of your participants.

Plan for learning experiences.
What can you anticipate learning from the local residents, cultures, and community? How will you learn about hunger and justice concerns? What activities and experiences will you use to help people prepare for the experience? How will you make use of the experience afterwards?

Communicate.
Tell everyone what's going on, why, when, and how they can get involved. Include active and inactive youth, parents, the congregation, and leaders in the host community. Use announcements, e-mail, newsletters, phone calls, posters, special invitations, bulletin boards, and anything else you can think of. Plan to tell people about the experience afterwards too.

Work with the community.
Community residents, youth and adults need to work together side-by-side. This is a relationship in which people serve, live, worship, and learn together as people who need each other. It is a relationship of mutual respect.

Do it, evaluate it and keep doing it!
Being a servant is an everyday, life-long responsibility no matter where you live. Find out where and how you are needed in your community throughout the year. Plan hands-on, face-to-face learning experiences. Think big! With the power and wisdom of God in our midst, we can work to relieve or solve world problems through actions which may otherwise seem small or insignificant.

Scripture Texts relating to Servanthood and Justice (NRSV)

Servants and Serving Joshua 22:1-6 "serve him with all your heart" Psalm 116:12-19 "O Lord, I am your servant" Psalm 119:121-128 "I am your servant" Mark 10:35-45 "the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve" John 12:26 "whoever serves me must follow me" John 21:15-19 "feed my lambs" I Corinthians 9:19-23 "I have made myself a slave to all" Philippians 2:1-18 "let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus" Colossians 3:23-24 "you serve the Lord Christ"		Peace, justice and care for others Exodus 23:1-9 "you shall not side with the majority so as to pervert justice" Deuteronomy 10:12-21 "love the stranger" Deuteronomy 15:7-11 "open your hand to the poor" Psalm 34:11-14 "seek peace" Proverbs 14:31 "those who oppress the poor insult their Maker" Proverbs 22:2 "the rich and the poor have this in common" Proverbs 31:8-9 "defend the rights of the poor and needy" Micah 6:8b "what does the Lord require of you but to do justice" Matthew 25:31-46 "I was hungry and you gave me food" Luke 6:27-36 "love your enemies" 1 Peter 4:10 (CEV) "wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others"
Love for others John 15:12-13 "love one another as I have loved you" Galatians 5:13-15 "through love become slaves to one another" Galatians 6:1-10 "bear one another's burdens" 1 John 4:16b "God is love"		Faith and actions Matthew 5:13-16 "let your light shine" Luke 10:25-37 parable of the good Samaritan Ephesians 2:8-10 "by grace you have been saved" James 2:14-26 "faith without works is also dead"