Not "just a volunteer"

One of the best parts of working in a nonprofit is that every day we get to work alongside terrific, dedicated, caring, and just plain fun people. They are not just ordinary people; they are volunteers -- or as we like to call them, volunteer leaders and mentors. 

Last year by our best count, 181 people volunteered to serve kids with SCYM! We are not making that up. 181 terrific, dedicated, caring, just plain fun people came together to make a difference for kids in our city. 

So this week being National Volunteer Week and all (you knew it was National Volunteer Week, right? sure you did.) we want to introduce you to a few of these great folks.

Meet Greg Jindra!

Greg is a senior at Cedarville University, studying pre-law, and he hails from Wooster, Ohio. Three years ago while at Cedarville, Greg was sucked in recruited by a friend to help lead a Young Life club for Hayward Middle School students with SCYM. His first year, the group would draw 15 or so students once a week to Southgate Baptist Church, where the club was held. Leaders would hang out with the students, play basketball, talk, and study the Bible together. 

With such a great experience, Greg was sucked in recruited to become the club leader his junior year. That fall, Greg led the team of leaders to regularly visit the area around Hayward after school to pass out flyers for Young Life. About the third week of club, 80 students from the neighborhood showed up one night. Chaos ensued. The calm, quiet club that everyone had enjoyed was nowhere to be found. 

Through this whole process, God used Greg through tremendous change and built a team of leaders that is now more than 30 people deep. Their commitment has grown and the impact on young people has, too. New structures were built and grown, sometimes a challenging process. The club now averages 40 students in grades 6-8. 

Greg says that he continues to volunteer/lead because "I see a need and I love helping to fill it." 

To someone thinking about volunteering to work with kids, Greg says, "Just go do it! Put yourself in a position to find out what the ministry does, be available, and put yourself out there."

We thank God for Greg, for his willingness to serve and lead even when things got challenging!