Journey asks Judith Finau: Why do you volunteer?

Judith Finau. Photo by Mardi Lumsden 

WHEN ASKED the question “Why do you volunteer”? I had to think about it for a while.

Growing up in the Northmead Methodist Church in New South Wales volunteering has been part of my life for more than 50 years. It was something I just did.

Volunteering to me means serving without asking for reward and caring for those who need love and support.

Volunteering to me is a form of ministry, whether it be within the church or in the community.

Being married to a Minister for more than 40 years gave me many opportunities to volunteer, and by volunteering I have gained experience which I can still put to good use today.

My first real experience was as a volunteer Telephone Counsellor at the first Life Line Centre in Sydney in 1963. I also remember my years volunteering with the Fiji Red Cross Society, teaching First Aid and editing the Society’s Magazine, Crossroads, when my husband was Vice-Principal of the Pacific Theological College.

And now, since becoming a widow, volunteering has filled a void in my life when I became part of the Journey team as volunteer editor of the Prayer Diary.

While I give my time I also gain the friendship and fellowship of the people I work with.

So to me volunteering is a two way process. It is a process of giving and service, but it is also a process of receiving.

I hope I can continue to volunteer for another year or two.

 Judith Finau does many things including being the co-ordinator of  Journey’s Prayer Diary and assisting in the posting of  Journey