In March, a group of 23 volunteers–most of whom attend the College View Church in Nebraska–traveled to Paraguay with the goal to serve. The trip was organized in collaboration with Maranatha Volunteers International, a supporting ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Volunteers on this project laid block walls for the Arcoiris congregation’s new church building. This faith community used to meet in a member’s home and often under a tree when it grew too hot. But now they’re excited to have a well-ventilated building of their own.
In addition to construction work, the group treated more than 500 patients at medical clinics and led Vacation Bible School programs for more than 100 neighborhood children. The project’s success with such a variety of efforts was due to a strong partnership between volunteers and Arcoiris members. “They were on site every day helping with every area of what we were doing,” recalled project leader Sheryl Selivanoff. This collaborative spirit forged a powerful bond. “We were a family. We were participating in ministry together with that church team,” remarked Selivanoff. “We were all crying when we were saying goodbye to each other.”
While working side-by-side, volunteers who attend the same church got to know each other better for the first time. Sabbath services at College View are typically attended by 1,500 people. “You can go to a large church and never see people,” explained Selivanoff. “Being alongside people you don’t normally socialize with in this group is a great bonding experience.”
Selivanoff is a longtime Maranatha volunteer and project leader who was first drawn to service by construction work itself. “I grew up in the building industry … I prefer to do that,” she said. But it wasn’t long before Selivanoff’s appreciation expanded to other aspects. “The first project I went on, I felt like I’d come home,” she recalled. “Maranatha for me just feels like I’m home. It feels like my family. It’s given me a beautiful … much richer life because of the people I’ve met and the love they have for Jesus.”
Maranatha Volunteers International mobilizes volunteers to build churches, schools, water wells, and other urgently needed structures around the world. Since 1969, Maranatha has constructed more than 14,000 buildings and more than 3,000 water wells in nearly 90 countries.
Sidney Needles is a communications specialist for Maranatha Volunteers International.
