The Volunteer Heart
First of all, thank you to the many volunteers that have blessed this ministry over the years!
Each volunteer takes to heart what Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
During my 35+ years at World Radio, many great, kind, and inspirational people crossed my path. I served at World Radio, CrossView TV, CrossView Prayer Ministries, and CrossView College of Prayer. There were definitely more volunteers than could be counted, but two people that are long time members of WFR Church come to mind.
Jean Howard (Mrs. Alton Howard) faithfully came to my office weekly to pick up a new prayer request list. She had many health struggles herself at times, but it didn’t keep her from praying for others. It inspired me to pray—no matter what. Mrs. Jean made her transfer to heaven several years ago.
Another volunteer, Mr. Scott Nelson, who continues to be a part of the local church, volunteered to answer the CrossView TV Prayer line. Even today when we think of those years, Hugh and I will say that we can still hear Scott answering the prayer line, saying, “Good morning, how may I help you?” Even though Scott was working full-time as a teacher in public school, he sacrificed his time to volunteer.
There was a time that the prayer line was using 17 volunteers to answer phones during the CrossView TV program. The response was so large, we started keeping one phone manned daily, 24/7 for a year. In that year we had 1,000 baptisms at churches across America.
For example, a prayer call would be answered, and we would mail a Bible Correspondence course to the caller. They’d call back, asking to be baptized, and it turned out to be Hugh Gower’s job to follow up. He’d call local churches close to the caller in order to have the minister go in person to meet them.
Often we’d receive a thank-you call from the minister for putting him in touch with the corresponder. He would report that the person was baptized and had become part of the local church family in that area. Volunteers at these local churches made a huge difference in the lives of people. Without the volunteers from local churches, many would not have heard the Gospel during phone Bible Studies and Bible Correspondence courses.
Out of this outreach came the CrossView College of Prayer. The two-year study covered Genesis to Revelation, focusing primarily on prayer and spiritual growth. Teachers in the two-year local Prayer Bible Study were faithful men with strong Bible knowledge. We thank Barry Stephens, Keith Roberts, and Don Stevens for all their time in those years.
So, my heart reaches out again to say thank you to the many volunteers that have made a difference in reaching lost and hurting people through these past 60 years. Your volunteer heart is what this scripture is referring to: “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.” –Colossians 3:23-24
Please remember that you are not working or volunteering just for people, but, more importantly, for Christ—all to his honor and Glory. So, let’s all keep on keeping on, for the sake of the Gospel of Christ!
Carolyn “Jo” Gower, was the Ministry Assistant for World Radio for over 35 years. Her years of experience included Donor Relations Coordinator, CrossView TV Call Center Supervisor, CrossView Prayer Coordinator, as well as Assistant to the Director.
Since retiring, Jo and her husband, Hugh, currently live in Searcy, Arkansas, where they volunteer in the prayer ministry at Downtown Church of Christ in Searcy.