ACSNews – Columbia, Maryland … Adventist Community Services (ACS) exists to serve. Service is love in action, it’s our calling and it’s how we live in community, by loving one another in practical ways.

Colette Newer, ACS associate director at the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, challenges us with this reflection “Who is the least of these? The least is the person you do not value. This can be different for me than it is for you. Who do you value the least? That is the one Jesus waits for you to honor, to serve, to love.”

ACS shares, connects, ministers, and disciples through service. Here are 1,2,3 simple ways to begin today

1. Bible Verse

Connect with God:

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5).

Before we can serve, we stay connected to the Source. God fills us, so we can overflow in love for others.

2. Ways to show love

  1. Listen to someone’s story: Listening to somebody else’s experience shows we care about them and helps us understand different perspectives. It makes us better friends and more effective in ministry.
  2. Stay Present: We may not solve the pain, but simply sitting through their painful experiences provides strength and comfort. Stay present as God remains present with us through our pain.

3. Ideas to serve your neighbor

As you meet your neighbors and hear their stories, you will find ways to serve them. Here are a few ideas:

  1. Food Blessing: Donate food to a local food pantry or volunteer to help sort.
  2. Yard Kindness: Organize a youth group to rake leaves or other yard work for someone with mobility issues.
  3. Errand Help: Pick up groceries or do other errands for someone who can’t easily get out.

—ACSNews. Adapted from the October 14, 2025, ACS Newsletter. Photos supplied.