loving boldly and serving together

Serve Boldly is a lived response to God’s life-changing invitation--an invitation to move beyond ourselves and into communities where love, justice, and dignity are already taking shape.

In nine locations across the country this year, God’s invitation to love and justice moved through communities as youth, adult leaders, summer staff, service organizations, and congregations united in ministry with Serve Boldly. Embracing new perspectives along the way, participants walked with neighbors, joining in God’s work unfolding in communities nationwide.

Participants quickly learned that service is not about arriving with answers, but about walking alongside neighbors. In St. Louis, one high school student described discovering the true power of service through ordinary, meaningful work. “I never imagined I’d enjoy farming, but I found a strange satisfaction in plucking garlic from the soil. And while planting sweet potatoes under the burning sun, I looked around and noticed something that stuck with me. I was sweating through my shirt, yet the farm workers around me were wearing long sleeves and pants. At first, I thought that was odd. Then I saw it: their focus, their energy, and their love for what they were doing. It wasn’t just work to them; it was something deeper.”

And, that awareness extended far beyond the farm. The student reflected that they saw God in every community they visited - “In the joy of the kids and caregivers. In the quiet strength of the unhoused. In the compassion at the women and children’s shelter.” They expressed gratitude to the St. Louis Community for opening their eyes to the hardworking, resilient people all around them, for reminding them that small acts of service can make a big impact.

Through hands-on service and encounters with people whose lives looked very different from their own, they discovered that service is not about changing others, it’s about showing up.  It’s about seeing God in new ways. It’s about being open to the Holy Spirit. These moments—on farms, in shelters, and within neighborhoods—became sacred spaces where God’s grace is made visible.

This past year, 831 participants partnered with 133 local organizations across nine communities, forming relationships rooted in trust, mutual transformation, and respect. Rather than working in isolation, Serve Boldly participants join ministries already embedded in these communities, learning what it means to serve alongside those who show up every day.

Community partners consistently affirm the importance of these relationships. In Nashville, Serve Boldly participants worked with The Bridge Ministry, which serves between 1,500 and 2,000 unhoused and under-resourced neighbors face-to-face each week through multiple outreach sites. Melody Ramsey of The Bridge Ministry shared deep appreciation for the volunteers who helped pack encampment bags filled with food and essential items, along with lunch supplies to support weekly hot meal outreaches. Over the course of their time together, participants packed more than 300 bags—tangible support that strengthened ongoing ministry. “We are so appreciative of the lovely group of individuals from Serve Boldly who are helping to pack resources for our unhoused community. We can’t do what we do without volunteers, like those from Serve Boldly, who come in to help us every week. Thank you so much for being here in Nashville.”

Serve Boldly is a ministry of Water’s Edge Ministries, and at its heart is a simple but profound truth: when people say yes to God’s invitation, lives change. Youth discover new courage and compassion. Communities experience renewed support and partnership.
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And together, the church and the world participate in a shared movement of love that honors the dignity of all people and responds faithfully to God’s invitation to love boldly and serve together.