By: Kara Trombetta

“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.” 2 Cor. 4:1

One lesson I learned this year is three-fold; that God’s people are God’s people; intern, staff or volunteer-the only thing that makes us different are our earthly titles.

 
It’s been incredible to be part of the intern program this year, and I was also blessed with the opportunity to see 10 new interns walk through the doors of McLean with their energy, insight and vulnerability to God’s Word. If I could stress one thing, it is that they yearn for God’s truth, which in turn, encourages others to do so. I think the bittersweet aspect of graduating from the FLP is that I am going to miss sitting in a room and sharing God-stories, hashing out biblical principles, and seeing my brothers and sisters make a concerted effort to view every blessing they receive and every trial they are facing through the eyes of Christ.

 
I do know though, that moving out to the Loudoun Community Campus, I have been blessed to join a team that mirrors those same attributes-in a different way and on a different level, but a striking parallel all the same. Working for a “church” can sometimes look different than working for the Lord; so it’s great to see people making that choice, even if it has to be reiterated every single day, to make sure their heart and mind are focused on serving the Lord and not just people.

 
And lastly, but most certainly not least, is my newfound appreciation for volunteers (aka: unpaid staff) in the church. This is not simply because we would get nothing accomplished without them (although true), but because I have been so humbled by their words of encouragement, so astounded by their stamina and so inspired by their sold out spirits. Volunteers are the rock stars of the church, and when you are volunteering, you rarely realize this. However, as a staff representative, I now understand the other side of the coin. Volunteers are the men and women who work on the hill during the day, fight hours of traffic and make it to church to serve in the evening; the teenagers and parents that give up their Sunday mornings and show up at the doors of the church with willing hands; the college students that are studying until midnight and making follow-up phone calls to new believers during the day; people that may not have a seminary degree but profoundly minister to myself and staff members alike, completely unaware that they are the Pauls, John the Baptists and Timothy’s of the world. This has been my experience, both at the Tyson’s Campus and Loudoun alike, and it has immensely impacted the way I view the Church today.

 
I would go as far as saying that nothing really matters except praising our Lord and worshiping Him in everything we do and say. All of the above examples illustrate this manner of living, and I am honored to serve alongside such incredible people and cannot wait to see how God continues to pour out his spirit on Washington DC through His body.