We are calling 2026 “The Year of Scripture and Service”. We want to dive into God’s Word then move into our city with good deeds. We’ve created this page to help give ideas as to how you can serve this year, as well as a place to track stories a we serve in our city this year.

What are we doing?

As part of The Year of Scripture & Service, we are committing together as a church family to embody the love of Christ through 1,000 simple, ordinary, everyday acts of service in our city.

These acts can be big or small — helping a neighbor, serving a local nonprofit, buying groceries for a family in need, tutoring a student, mentoring someone younger, volunteering with a partner organization, or anything else that reflects the heart of Jesus.

Why 1,000?

The number isn’t about achievement — it’s about formation. As Citizens Church, we want to be a people shaped by God’s Word and sent into God’s world. Serving forms us to be more like Jesus, the One who “came not to be served but to serve.” A goal helps us be intentional — something we can celebrate together and use to cultivate a lifestyle of everyday mission. In addition, 1,000 acts of service means about 10 acts per member, which we think is a great goal for us this year!

How does it work?

Our plan is simple:

Serve someone—anyone, anywhere.
Record your act of service on our form (takes 10–15 seconds).
Watch our church-wide tracker grow throughout 2026 as we celebrate what God is doing.

Why are we recording our acts of service?

After all, doesn’t Jesus tell us to do our serving in private? Well…sort of.

In Matthew 6, Jesus warns us not to perform righteousness in order to be seen and admired by others. His concern is the heart posture, not the act itself. The danger isn’t in serving publicly, but serving so that you will be praised publicly. When our motivation shifts from loving God and neighbor to making ourselves look impressive, we’ve missed the point entirely.

But that’s not what we’re doing here. Our goal is something different…something Biblical. You see, throughout Scripture, God’s people regularly record, remember, and celebrate His works through His people:

Israel built memorial stones so future generations would ask, “What does this mean?”
The early church kept records of generosity, service, and sacrificial love (Acts 2, Acts 4, Romans 16).
Paul often publicly commended churches and individuals for their labor in the Lord (e.g., Romans 16; Philippians 4; 1 Thessalonians 1).

The purpose wasn’t self-congratulation — it was formation and encouragement. It helped the community see what God was doing through ordinary obedience.

That’s what we’re doing here.

We are recording our acts of service not to draw attention to ourselves, but to:

1. Celebrate what God is doing.

Every act of love, no matter how small, is evidence that the Spirit is at work among us. Tracking these stories allows us to see a bigger picture of God’s faithfulness over time.

2. Strengthen a culture of service.

What we pay attention to, we grow in. Naming and recording service helps shape us into a church that naturally moves toward others.

3. Encourage one another.

Hearing how others are serving stirs up new ideas, inspires creativity, and reminds us that no one is doing this alone.

4. Help us reach our shared goal of 1,000 acts of service.

Not as a scoreboard, but as a shared vision of what could happen if every person in our church practiced small, everyday acts of love in Jesus’ name.

5. Build habits that form us into Christlikeness.

Service is one of the ways God grows humility, compassion, hospitality, and generosity in us. Recording these acts helps us intentionally pursue that formation together.

We’re not counting our acts of service to celebrate ourselves. We’re counting them to celebrate God’s work through His people and to grow into a church marked by love.

And just to note — when you share your act of service, even though you’ll be sharing your name on the form, they will be posted anonymously (both server + recipient) on this page.

Bless the People in Your Everyday Life

Bring a meal to a neighbor or co-worker going through a busy or difficult season.
Offer free babysitting to a young family.
Write a note of encouragement to a teacher, nurse, or first responder.
Pull trash bins to/from the street for neighbors.
Pay for the person behind you in a drive-thru.
Host a dinner for someone new to Citizens.
Rake leaves or mow lawns for elderly neighbors.
Invite someone who is lonely to lunch or coffee.

Volunteer with our Serve CLT Partners

Foster Village — Foster Village exists to surround those in the foster system with a village of support for a dignified childhood for all experiencing foster care.
Out of the Ashes — The Out of the Ashes Foundation empowers the community to compassionately embrace those who are grieving the loss of a pregnancy, infant, or fertility with the love of Christ by showing honor, providing help and restoring hope.
Nourish Up — Nourish Up exists to provide groceries to neighbors in need in Mecklenburg County through the largest network of food pantries in North Carolina, grocery home delivery, and delivering healthy meals each weekday.
Roof Above — Roof Above’s mission is to unite the community to end homelessness, one life at a time.
Queen City Pregnancy Resource Center — Queen City Pregnancy Resource Center offers a safe and confidential space for free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and emotional support for expecting moms.
A21 — A21 exists to fully abolish slavery around the world.

After browsing the organizations above, click the link to their webpage for more information about serving opportunities. You can sign up as an individual, family or group from church. After serving, log your act through our “1,000 Acts of Service” tracker below — so we can collectively celebrate what God does through us as a church in Charlotte.

We want to celebrate and draw inspiration from the ways God is working through ordinary people in ordinary moments. Whether it felt big or small, every act of service matters. Take a moment to share how you served someone, and help us build a culture of love in our city.

SUBMIT A SERVING STORY

Story Highlights:

** COMING SOON **