Serve the Community

Love Your Neighbor

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” John 13:34 (NLT)

One of the best ways we can love those around us is by becoming better neighbors and serving those we live close to. There are infinite ways we can love our neighbors, but it all starts with one question: Am I seeing the people around me? Use these resources to jumpstart your awareness, and pay attention to how God can use you right where you are.

Ideas to Get Started

These are simply suggestions to get you started. As you notice the needs around you, ask God how He can use you to meet them.

Make cards and/or treats for teachers, healthcare workers, or first responders.
Buy a gift card from the place where you’re getting coffee or lunch and give it to someone in line or someone nearby (homeless person, INDOT worker, etc.).
Make a meal or treat for a neighbor that has lost a loved one, has been ill, has an ill family member, has a new baby, etc.
Mow a lawn or do some yard work for a neighbor who has lost a loved one, has been ill, has an ill family member, has a new baby, etc.
Pick up trash in your neighborhood or at a local park.
Keep socks/snacks/water bottles in your car to give to people standing at interstate exits and other intersections.
Make sack lunches to hand out to construction workers or people struggling with homelessness.
Offer to babysit for a neighbor with young children.
Pick up a few extra staples at the grocery store for a neighbor who may not be able to get out and run errands.

Resources to Learn More

RightNow Media:

12 Neighbors series
“Help” video
Open the Door to Love and Serve Others (Logan Wolfram)
2014 RightNow Conference – The Art of Neighboring (Dave Runyon)
Love Your Neighbors (Eddie Mosley)

Books:

The Art of Neighboring by Dave Runyon
The Neighboring Church by Brian Mavis and Rick Rusaw

Serve with Local Outreach Partners

2022 Mission Trips: Check out tpcc.org/mission-trips to serve our partners in the Indianapolis area.

Ascent 121: Help survivors of human trafficking in Indiana by volunteering with one of our local partners, Ascent 121. There are volunteer opportunities for individuals, families, or groups that include DIY projects, hosting education opportunities to raise awareness, or helping out in the Ascent 121 office in a variety of ways. Due to the complexity of the trauma that the survivors have experienced and to protect their privacy, Ascent 121 does not have volunteers work directly with the girls. To see more details on how to get engaged, go to Ascent 121 volunteer opportunities or or sign up to go on the Prayer Journey.

Brookside Community Development Corporation: Brookside is a historic neighborhood on the near east side of Indianapolis. The community development corporation is working toward renewal one life at a time through three initiatives: serving the high number of individuals that reenter society from incarceration, addiction, and homelessness; developing youth through play; providing dignity, stability, and accountability to individuals and families that struggle with inconsistent and unreliable housing. To sign up to volunteer, go to Brookside volunteering.

FAM (Foster and Adoption Ministry): God cares for the vulnerable, not the least of which are orphans and the fatherless. God’s Word compels us to step forward, lock arms, and defend the fatherless in our community and world. Together, we can make a difference. The church can have a massive, sustainable impact on the foster and adoption crisis. If you would like to join us in caring for vulnerable children by opening your own home to a child or by supporting other families who have, visit our FAM page.

Life Centers: Because of your generosity, we’ve been able to partner with Life Centers for over ten years as they provide care to those experiencing pregnancy-related decisions and share hope found in Jesus Christ with expectant mothers. To provide items to meet their current needs, visit Life Centers – Items Needed. If you would like to get involved and volunteer, visit Life Centers – Volunteering Opportunities.

Shepherd Community Center: Shepherd Community has been serving neighbors on the near east side of Indianapolis for 35 years in a variety of ways, building assets into people’s lives and helping to empower them so they can break the bonds of generational poverty. Shepherd does this by fighting systemic causes and serving with relationship-based care that makes a difference – physically, socially, and spiritually. They have numerous volunteer opportunities revolving around food security, mentoring, education, and advocacy. To volunteer with Shepherd Community Center, visit Shepherd Community Serve.

Str8Up Ministries: Through their neighborhood youth lodge, Str8Up Ministries provides a local environment with activities to strengthen families and mentor youth in a variety of ways, particularly in the areas of life skills training, academic tutoring, and leadership development. They offer these activities at no financial cost to the youth and families. They also harness the energy and innovative ideas of the youth to give back to the community through neighborhood work days, tutoring, and other practical help. To volunteer, go to Str8Up Ministries and enter “volunteering” as the reason for contacting them.

Wheeler Mission: Founded in 1893, Wheeler Mission is the oldest continuously operating ministry for those experiencing homeless, hunger, and addiction in the state of Indiana. You can help by preparing sack lunches or volunteer to prepare trays, roll silverware, hand out drinks, and assist with cleaning up during a meal service. Purchase some of their most needed items, or donate items to their Wheeler Mission Barns (located at our Northwest and North Campuses). All donated items go to their Wheeler Mission Thrift Store which directly helps to fund Wheeler Mission and provide jobs for the homeless. If you have items that are too large to bring to the Wheeler Barns, you can contact Wheeler Mission at Pick up My Donation.

Food Items needed for Food Pantries: Check out the list of food items here.

Questions about serving your community? Contact our Outreach Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there options to serve with my group?

Yes! We would love for groups to participate together. As you look through the serving options, talk with your group about what interests them. Ideas include pooling your resources to create gift baskets, participating in a prayer journey, or heading downtown to serve at Wheeler Mission together.

How will participants be protected from COVID-19?

For in-person volunteering, each site has their own precautions in place, and they generally include face coverings and a screening. Contactless curbside drop-off will be an option to drop off donations at your campus. We also have opportunities to ship items directly to TPCC, or you can serve through financial support. Other options are educational in nature if you desire a no-contact serving opportunity.

How can I serve year round?

We’ll continually update the serving opportunities at tpcc.org/serve-community. Keep checking back to see how you can serve your community! If you’re interested in serving at one of our TPCC campuses, visit tpcc.org/serve-step.

Can I share about serving on social media?

Consent is key. Always ask the permission of the person, or the caretaker of the child, before you take a picture or share a story. Share with them the ways you may use an image or story if they grant permission. Do not post pictures or stories of children in foster care.
Communication must be accurate and honest.
Convey human dignity. Remember, each person is more than an emblem of need or object of compassion. Focus on the strengths of the person, not their weaknesses. Respect the person’s future story. Emphasize growth over hardship.
Use people-first language. In order to love and serve well, we must be careful of the language we use. People-first language puts the person before the hardship or disability. Examples: say "person with disability" instead of disabled person, say "person experiencing homelessness" instead of homeless person, say "currently incarcerated person" instead of inmate, say "child in foster care" instead of foster child.
Use #WeAreTPCC and tag @TradersPointCC as you share your stories on social media!

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Frequently Asked Questions