What would you do if you knew you only had a few days left to live? How would you spend them?
On his last night on earth, Jesus chose to serve. The night before he was crucified, the Son of God knelt on the rough floorboards of the upper room and washed the feet of his closest friends. Then he spoke these powerful words:
"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant] is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:14-17).
In reading Scripture, we understand that the Lord is serious about our care of others. The Apostle John wrote in his first letter, “But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?” 1 John 3:17
Teaching that Service is a Joy and Privilege
At LuHi, we want to follow our Lord’s example and take these words to heart. It is a privilege and a joy as followers of Jesus to serve others. That’s why we’re committed to shaping not only the minds of our students but also their hearts and character. We love being the hands and feet of Jesus in visible, tangible ways throughout our community. Each year, every LuHi student completes 20 service hours, whether through our school, a church, a nonprofit, or by serving individuals in need. This practice reminds us of the generosity we have received - all good gifts come from our Father above (James 1:17) - and allows us to share the love of Christ with those who need it most.
One student described how service transformed her perspective: “It started out as just needing to fill my service hour requirement. But after going to Sox Place a few times, I realized my heart was softening. I come from a different walk of life than the people we were serving, but we’re all human—we all need to eat, and we all crave connection. That realization keeps me going back.”
Bill Garner leads up our Mission and Service teams. He shares a little about his passion for service. “God breaks your heart for people. When you serve, you come to love the people you meet. I love Missions and believe in Missions, but there's something fancy about Missions that doesn't exist in Service. There's no recognition in Service. No one knows who’s doing what. You wake up at 6 AM on a freezing Saturday morning, but everyone still shows up. Because while it’s early and cold, there are people who slept outside last night counting on us to bring them a warm meal.”
Service, at its core, isn’t about what we get out of it—yet it changes us in ways we never expect. It’s the fruit of participating in the Kingdom Jesus came to bring.
One student put it this way: “If someone can’t get to the mindset of ‘it’s not about me’ before they go on a trip, they might have a rough experience. But when it’s not a me-centered activity, it’s so much more fulfilling.”
Many students have shared that their service hours don’t even feel like service. Sometimes, serving means getting sweaty and dirty. Other times, it means simply being present, offering dignity, and caring for others. Everyone has unique gifts to bring to the table—what has God given you that you can share with others?
Who Needs Us to Serve?
The Old and New Testaments both command that we care for the orphans and widows in our society. We are called to help meet the needs of people who can’t meet their needs themselves. We look different from the world when we make time for the marginalized and those lowest in our society.
But there is no limit to who we are called to serve. Brokenness and hurt are everywhere. The world is full of people in need—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Jesus tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves. A good habit is to reflect on who your neighbor is and how you can meet a need they have.
Jesus calls us to serve the hungry, the homeless, the lonely, the sick, and the brokenhearted. Sometimes, this means helping those who are easy to see, like individuals facing homelessness or families struggling to make ends meet. Other times, it means being there for someone who feels unseen—a classmate battling anxiety, an elderly neighbor craving conversation, or a single parent juggling countless responsibilities.
God has placed each of us in unique positions to serve the people around us. Who in your life might need a helping hand, a listening ear, or a reminder of God’s love today? When we open our eyes to the needs around us, we begin to live with a heart for missions in everyday life.
We never have to worry about giving too much of ourselves. We serve an abundant God who can do immeasurably more than we can imagine. There will be seasons when we are the poor and lowly who need to be served. Because of God’s economy, we can trust that even in those moments, He will provide.
Where We Serve
LuHi students serve in a variety of places. The list is ever-growing, but three places we return to month after month are:
- Sox Place – A drop-in center for homeless youth in Denver.
- Treasure House of Hope – A ministry helping individuals overcome addiction and life struggles.
- Legacy Village – An assisted living community where students connect with and care for senior residents.
There are also several community events throughout the year students participate in such as Night to Shine and Operation Christmas Child.
To track service hours, we use MobileServe, making it easy for students to maintain records they can take with them after graduation. Current and upcoming volunteer opportunities are posted on Canvas. If you have any questions, reach out to Bill Garner at bill.garner@lhsparker.org.
Jesus’ life was marked by service, and at LuHi, we strive to follow his example. Whether through big acts or small gestures, every moment spent serving is an opportunity to share His love. How will you use your gifts to serve others today?
Originally posted in February 2017, updated for accuracy in 2025
