Rethinking My Place in a Body of Believers
by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
Growing up in small Baptist churches in rural Georgia, I was immersed in a culture of selfless service and deep community. At Roddy Baptist Church, where I was baptized as a child, and later at Bethel Baptist, I witnessed firsthand what it means to love and serve as part of the Body of Christ.
When I was younger, our church family wasn’t just a group of people who gathered on Sundays—it was a lifeline. Holidays, tragedies, and the mundane rhythm of life were all shared experiences. Neighbors showed up for each other, not just because they were asked, but because they cared deeply. The church ladies, the deacons, the pastor and his wife—they all demonstrated what it meant to live out Galatians 6:2: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
At Bethel Baptist, I spent countless Sundays with my pastor’s wife, who tirelessly served the church kids and congregation. She didn’t just talk about love—she lived it, pouring herself into cleaning, cooking, and caring for others, week after week. These women, along with others in my church families, taught me what it meant to serve with joy and humility.
The Call to Serve
Church membership isn’t about titles, recognition, or personal gain. It’s about loving acts of service, one day at a time. It’s about showing up—not for a position or affirmation, but to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need. Even now, I know my Roddy Baptist church family would drop everything to help me if I called, and my River Church family has proven their love by showing up in my darkest moments, whether it’s praying with me in an ER or supporting me in ways I never expected.
This is what the church is meant to be: a community bound by love and committed to serving one another. (see John 13:34-35 below)
A Dwindling Commitment
But something has changed. Over the past twenty years, and especially in the last five, I’ve seen a decline in acts of service and commitment within the church. Small, close-knit church communities seem to be fading, replaced by transient attendees who don’t stay long enough to plant roots or grow in discipleship.
Last week, someone who occasionally attends our church—without engaging in classes, volunteering, or forming deep connections—asked to be placed in a leadership position. This isn’t an isolated incident. Time and again, I’ve seen people blow in and out of churches, seeking titles or benefits without investing in the community.
This raises a pressing question: What has become of discipleship?
The Heart of Discipleship
Discipleship isn’t about personal gain or quick results. It’s about a willingness to commit, to grow, and to serve selflessly, even when it’s hard. It’s about planting seeds, nurturing them with love and patience, and waiting for the harvest. A church family isn’t just a resource to use when it’s convenient; it’s a place to belong, to grow in Christ, and to pour into others.
As believers, we’re called to follow Jesus’ example of sacrificial love. Leadership in the church isn’t about status—it’s about servanthood. Jesus Himself said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26).
A Call to Action
It’s time to reclaim the heart of church community and discipleship. Let’s commit to showing up, serving selflessly, and being the family of Christ that the world so desperately needs. If you’re part of a church, ask yourself:
- How can I serve others today?
- Am I planting roots and building relationships within my church?
- What does discipleship look like in my life?
To those who are already serving and loving others tirelessly—thank you. You’re making a difference. To those who are searching for a place to belong, I encourage you to dig deep, plant roots, and let God use you to bless others.
A Prayer for the Church
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of the church—a place to belong, to grow, and to serve. Help us to rekindle the spirit of selfless love and acts of service within our church families. Teach us to be disciples who are committed to building Your Kingdom through our actions and relationships. Guide us to serve with humility and joy, reflecting the heart of Christ in all we do. Strengthen our communities and let us be a light to those who need You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Postscript
Thank you to my church families at Roddy Baptist Church, Bethel Baptist Church, and The River Church for giving me and my family a place to call home. I have been honored to learn and to grow alongside the most humble and selfless members of the Body of Christ. Your acts of love and service have inspired me, and I am forever grateful for the blessing of being part of your communities.
Scripture References:
- Galatians 6:2
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” - Matthew 20:26-28
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” - 1 Peter 4:10
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” - Philippians 2:3-4
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” - Hebrews 10:24-25
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” - John 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - Ephesians 4:11-12
“So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
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The Aging English Major 