What Can I Do?
Allan E. McNabb

A lot of things need to be done in a congregation.  And it takes each person doing his work, for the congregation to be as successful as possible.  As the old song says, “There is work that we all can do.”

In this article, I want to remind us of a little thing we can do as we go about our busy, day-to-day lives.

Make a Phone Call
It’s simple to make a phone call, especially in the technological age in which we live.

We have portable phones we can carry in our houses, and while working in the yard.  We can make a phone call while sitting in a recliner or on the couch.  We can call while watching TV or doing practically any chore or recreational activity.

Many of us have cell phones we carry around almost everywhere.  It’s easy to make a call while parked in our cars, waiting in a line, or doing most anything.

Call the Sick and Homebound
People who are sick and homebound are often bored, lonely, and spiritually discouraged.  Imagine what it’s like to be stuck at home, unable to go to church where your spiritual batteries can be recharged.  It’s terrible — that’s what homebound people think, at least the ones I know.

Calling someone on the phone takes very little time or energy, but it means the world to someone who is sick, in the hospital, or homebound.

Before my grandmother died, a young lady where she went to church called her nearly every day.  This simple gesture made my grandmother’s day.  It “broke up the day” she said.  It made the day more bearable, and removed some of the loneliness.

There are a number of people in our congregation who would love to hear from all of us every week.  They’re stuck at home and can’t get out, for the most part, due to their health.  If each of us call them once a week, whereby they received a few calls each day, the trials of ill health would be lessened, and their burdens would be lifted.

“What can I do?” you ask.  Make a couple of calls each week to our members who are ill and homebound.

Call a Member Who’s Experiencing a Trial
Besides the trials of ill health, brethren who are experiencing other trials need to hear from us during the week.  You don’t have to talk long on the phone.  You don’t even have to know what you’re going to say.  Just call to say hello, let them know you’re praying for them, and ask if you can help.

All of us experience trials.  And they’re a lot easier to go through when we hear from our brethren each week.  When we’re enduring trials, we need to know people are praying for us, and we need to hear people assure us that everything is going to be okay — that God is in control, and He’ll bless us.

“What can I do?” you ask.  Call a brother or sister who’s experiencing a trial.  Let them know you are praying for them and that God’s going to bless them; then see if you can help.

Call Your Friends
It’s easy to call our friends, but sometimes we forget to stay in contact with them, especially if we don’t see them often. Often times, our friends are the people we have the best chance of influencing with the gospel.  Most people choose a church based on family and friends who invite them to attend church.  Many people are looking for a church; they’re waiting for someone they know and trust to invite them.

“What can I do?” you ask.  Call your friends, stay close to them, and invite them to church.

The Telephone is an Effective Tool
We are more blessed than previous generations because we can easily communicate with other people.  The telephone is an effective tool we can use to lift another’s burden and share the gospel with others.

“What can I do?” you ask.  Use your telephone to encourage your brethren, and bring the lost to Christ.