Article July 7, 1997 Issue

"In service to Christ"

Colette Doyle

In Massachusetts, volunteers from the community help the Department of Social Services make decisions for the 13,000 children in the foster care system. On the application to become a Volunteer Case Reviewer, each person is asked why he or she wants to be a reviewer. Usually people write that they want to "give back" or in some way "help a child."

Yet, when people were interviewed face to face by a doctoral student who was examining what motivates people to do volunteer work, a commonly expressed theme was "in service to Christ." Many volunteers report praying before each review to guide them in their decisions in the meeting. Many also pray afterward for the children they have learned about in the meeting.

We are all part of the solution for these children, and we are all welcome to take an active role in helping children develop to their fullest potential.

Colette Doyle,
Northeast Regional Clinical Manager, Massachusetts Department of Social Services

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