When my children were still young, I was able to do volunteer work in their elementary school. My responsibility was to help teach students reading skills. It was gratifying to see many who were struggling with the concept of reading finally "get it"!

As my children got older, I spent a day a week in their high school helping with the band program. Later on I had the opportunity to be involved in a Block Watch program. These volunteer efforts were important to me because they gave something back to our community.

Helping in the Office

Just over three years ago, a different volunteer opportunity came my way—that of working in the Canadian National Office. Several members have mentioned that they would love to be able to do this. Of course, commuting from British Columbia or Newfoundland might prove to be a bit of a problem!

Since not everyone can have the opportunity of helping in one of the Church's offices, let me share some of the joys and challenges of doing so.

One of the first challenges is answering the phone. A person never knows who is on the other end or their reason for calling. It can be someone irate that they are "still" receiving the magazine when they asked that their subscription be canceled. Usually a little reassurance that it will be taken care of—that the last issue was already in the mail before the cancellation was received—is enough to make the end of the conversation more pleasant than the beginning.

Usually, though, the calls are very positive, with people very grateful for what they are receiving. One lady was so excited about our literature, she called every few days to ask if it had been mailed yet and to request more!

Several people have expressed that they would love to be able to help with God's work. Actually, there are a number of volunteers across Canada (and other countries) who have saved the Church a lot of money by their efforts. The Church has set up programs that rely upon the work of individuals and congregations to help spread the gospel, and these programs are bearing fruit.

If you would like to be a volunteer for the Church, here are some of the ways you can be involved.

GN Newsstand Program

This involves making arrangements with a store, mall or plaza to have space to put a newsstand (either a free-standing or counter display). It then requires monitoring and refilling as needed.

Currently we have several members across Canada distributing hundreds of magazines this way and have added many subscribers to the magazine as a result. Many are involved in the United States and other countries as well.

Waiting Room Program

This program puts the magazine in waiting rooms for people to read while they are waiting! There are three ways this is done in Canada. One is done from the Canadian office. We mail a sample copy to waiting rooms. Members have worked to help reduce our mailing costs by calling waiting rooms to ask if they would like to have a copy of the magazine. This eliminates many who would not be interested and so reduces our postage costs. Another approach is for a member to personally visit waiting rooms to ask if they would like to have a subscription. In both of these scenarios, the members (or congregations) work with the National Office to be sure that they aren't calling on offices that have already been approached.

Each week a handful of the tear-out cards from the waiting room editions come in from individuals requesting their own subscription. So thanks to some of you, our magazine is not only becoming more recognized, but we have more subscribers at a fairly low cost.

Though U.S. waiting rooms that didn't renew were recently eliminated, new interested waiting rooms are still being added.

Brochure Distribution

This program is a bit less costly than distributing magazines. We have an attractive trifold brochure promoting the magazine. Members can arrange for them to be distributed by using our small display stands in stores. Or, even easier, members can post them on bulletin boards where permitted. They are small enough to be carried around in a purse or briefcase. Those areas where this is being tried are seeing results.

Good News Cards

GN cards are the size of postcards—in fact they are postcards. Anyone who picks them up can request a subscription to The Good News by mailing in the card. Members can use them much the same way as the brochures. They are easy to put up on any bulletin board in a shopping area or perhaps a Laundromat.

Gift Card Program

Several congregations are involved in this program. Members can fill in a card to send a gift magazine to a family member or friend who might be interested in the magazine. On average about 10 percent of those who receive a sample magazine request a subscription. The others have at least seen what we have to offer.

These programs have produced some good fruit and have helped our advertising budget go farther. I believe that they are as important or more important than sitting in the office answering the phone! If you would like to help, contact your pastor. Or, if you are in a remote area, contact the office. The staff will be most pleased to "give you a volunteer job." It will be one of the most rewarding volunteer experiences you have had. Who knows if God will use your efforts to call someone into the Church! UN