What is Service?

A letter to the volunteers OF the Gen San OUTREACH 2025

Do unto others, as you would like others to do unto you. A reciprocal attitude towards giving of oneself in selfless service, I believe, is what brings us together.

We have been given the opportunity of a lifetime, to undertake a task of the noblest cause, that characterizes the very framework of humanity which is of service to others. The principle of which is to express the very nature of who we are as created beings. To understand its essence, one has to be ushered in and meshed into an experience of what we call volunteerism. It is a call oftentimes used to invite people to join for activities of charitable or worthwhile endeavors. But let us take a closer look into another dimension of the word volunteerism in the context of service without remuneration or compulsory injunction.

Our coordinator, Nonoy de Angel, in his message last Sabbath which he gave to the congregation of the Inland Empire Filipino SDA church shared a profound biblical meaning of service. He mentioned the inherent foundation of service which is love or charity. A theme so evident even from the beginning of the creation of time and space and of this world, and when God created man in His image. Inherent in the entire creation, including man as God’s created being is a sense of charity, a fundamental principle established by God, who in essence is love.

1 John 4:7-8, God is love.

John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.

The sacrificial love he manifested when he gave his Son to ransom us from sin, attests to the indivisible nature of this Divine attribute of love and sacrifice. Sacrificial service epitomizes the Kingdom of God.

We are given this exceptional but noble privilege to express our utmost gratitude for what He has done and gifted us. What we are committing to him in this outreach mission is not only our time and resources (which are all from him) but our very own self, recognizing, “in Him, with Him, for Him and because of Him, we live.”

It is this realization that inspires us to offer our humble service to Him, recognizing a benevolent God, we serve. And out of the gratitude of our heart, knowing such opportunity might not present itself anymore, notwithstanding the brevity of life.

“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,” doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;” 1 Corinthians 13:4,5 KJV

Through sacrificial volunteering of time, resources, and self, each of those involved has brought inspiration and joy as these services are rendered with genuine commitment and love to the least privileged people of the community whom we chose to serve. The long preparation, sacrifice of travel, resources spent, long working hours with challenging situations, and even missed meals and aching backs are replaced with joy knowing that what you have done makes a big difference in someone's life.

What is current in our mission is the inclusion of an evangelistic component. In reality, the true essence of our work, where the medical missionary work is the right hand of the gospel, is God’s method of opening doors for the entrance of the present truth. We truly welcome our evangelistic team. Then what flows from this experience are invaluable, intangible blessings of joy, happiness, fulfillment and satisfaction of which no material reward can match. But more than this, a greater and deeper understanding of our work and involvement would allow us to realize our personal goals and achieve personal satisfaction that aligns with our purpose, interests, and values in life.

To this end my fellow volunteers—our servant leaders and enlisted individuals who took the plunge with us, I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of FISSH to express my thanks and appreciation to each and everyone for your total commitment and dedication to this cause. It is with joy and positive anticipation that our time together will be worthwhile for the remembrance of a lifetime.

See you all in GenSan on March 30-April 4, 2025. Godspeed and safe travels!