IHN Volunteer Stories: Janet
Lake Edge member Janet Kennedy shares her thoughts about being an IHN overnight host:
I started attending Lake Edge in October of 2000. I had never been a churchgoer before and didn’t know what to expect… One of the first things that struck me about Lake Edge was the Amazing Blue Sheet. I thought that Blue Sheet was one of the coolest things ever. Every week, without any effort required on my part, thoughtful people of Lake Edge would assemble opportunities for me to participate in the Body of the Church, in the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ. I didn’t quite understand that, but I slowly started putting checks in front of opportunities to join church activities.
Among the first opportunities I chose was to be an evening host in the Interfaith Hospitality Network. I showed up for my first shift. I found Genny Gibbs-Benesh, IHN program coordinator for Lake Edge, greeting me and sharing information I would need for the night. I found Marilyn Hanold cooking fresh catfish fillets and cornbread for me and a group of women and children living in our church basement. Later that evening the McMillan family showed up, all five of them, to spend the night. I thought, “How amazing, these people of Lake Edge! Sharing their building, their time, their resources, their children, with others less fortunate than themselves.”
I began to understand I had found an amazing place: Lake Edge United Church of Christ. A place where opportunities would be extended to me to work side by side with generous, dedicated people of faith who had allowed me, Janet Kennedy, newcomer to the church, to be part of the Body of Christ. I felt and feel blessed beyond all understanding to have found my own Road Home by way of Lake Edge.
What it's really like to volunteer with IHN
Audrey's Story
Nicole's Story
Renee's Story
Scott's Story
History of IHN at Lake Edge
I started attending Lake Edge in October of 2000. I had never been a churchgoer before and didn’t know what to expect… One of the first things that struck me about Lake Edge was the Amazing Blue Sheet. I thought that Blue Sheet was one of the coolest things ever. Every week, without any effort required on my part, thoughtful people of Lake Edge would assemble opportunities for me to participate in the Body of the Church, in the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ. I didn’t quite understand that, but I slowly started putting checks in front of opportunities to join church activities.
Among the first opportunities I chose was to be an evening host in the Interfaith Hospitality Network. I showed up for my first shift. I found Genny Gibbs-Benesh, IHN program coordinator for Lake Edge, greeting me and sharing information I would need for the night. I found Marilyn Hanold cooking fresh catfish fillets and cornbread for me and a group of women and children living in our church basement. Later that evening the McMillan family showed up, all five of them, to spend the night. I thought, “How amazing, these people of Lake Edge! Sharing their building, their time, their resources, their children, with others less fortunate than themselves.”
I began to understand I had found an amazing place: Lake Edge United Church of Christ. A place where opportunities would be extended to me to work side by side with generous, dedicated people of faith who had allowed me, Janet Kennedy, newcomer to the church, to be part of the Body of Christ. I felt and feel blessed beyond all understanding to have found my own Road Home by way of Lake Edge.
What it's really like to volunteer with IHN
Audrey's Story
Nicole's Story
Renee's Story
Scott's Story
History of IHN at Lake Edge