This past Wednesday, Miss Jelena brought a powerful message about what it means to serve on mission — not just in another country, but right here in our everyday lives. She helped students see that serving others is more than helping; it’s choosing love, humility, and obedience in the way Jesus lived. Through Scripture and stories from her mission trip, Miss Jel showed how saying “yes” to God can open doors, build relationships, and plant seeds that grow over time.
Serving is an expression of love, humility, and obedience to God, modeled perfectly by Jesus Himself.
Serving looks like:
Serving is never about attention or praise. It’s about the motive of your heart. Jesus said in Matthew 20:28: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…”
Just like the Good Samaritan, Jesus served people who were ignored, pushed out, or considered “outsiders.” He loved everyone.
This summer, Miss Jel went on a mission trip to Serbia. Their team had one motto:
“Don’t say no on a mission trip.”
Serving often means giving up things like:
But when God asks you to do something, saying “no” means missing out on what He wants to do through you.
James 4:17 reminds us: “If you know the right thing to do and don’t do it, it is sin.”
A powerful example from Serbia:
The team met Pastor Tran, prayed with families, delivered groceries, and shared testimonies. At the end of the day, Pastor Tran asked if they would visit the Chinese families living in the village — families who had fled China because Christians there must worship in secret.
Even though it wasn’t in the plan, the team said YES.
That “yes” led to:
A single “yes” opened doors for the Gospel.
Miss Jel reminded us that when we serve others, we are planting seeds of God’s Word. Those seeds may grow slowly or quietly, but God is always at work.
Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1–17):
Serving is sowing. God is the One who grows the seeds.
2 Corinthians 9:6–10 teaches us:
Sow = plant the seed
Reap = gather the results
Sometimes people respond right away. Sometimes they don’t. But every act of love plants something.
Valentin and Vince
For the past 10 years, Vince has visited Serbia, and about five years ago he met a local man named Valentin. Their friendship began simply… each year Vince would bring a pocket knife as a gift, and Valentin would give one in return. Valentin wasn’t a Christian and wasn’t open to Jesus, but through Vince’s steady love for the Gospel and the genuine friendship he built, something began to change. This year, Valentin started going to church with his wife. His heart is softening. A seed planted years ago is finally growing.
Kids’ Camp
Miss Jel worked with the Roma teens, a group often judged or looked down on. Some boys were rowdy, distracted, and difficult. But they kept showing up. They asked deep questions about God. One boy even said he believed he was going to hell… and that opened a conversation that planted a seed of hope.
Even when kids seem uninterested or chaotic, God is working. Showing up matters. Love matters. Seeds matter.
The Heart of This Week’s Message
Serving is not about being perfect. It’s about being willing. It’s about saying yes when God nudges your heart. It’s about planting seeds and trusting God to grow them.
When you serve, whether in Serbia or in your classroom, you leave an impact.
Dinner & Discipleship (Family chapel chat for around the dinner table)