Seven years and one new congregation later, still volunteering
When Maria Muske began volunteering with Jesus Cares Ministries at 12 years old, she didn’t think it would have much of an effect on her spiritual life. Seven years later, she has come to realize God didn’t bring her to JCM to help the participants; he brought them to help her.
“Through the wonderful students at Jesus Cares, God has shown me that everyone can have faith and believe in him, even if they are non-verbal or have other disabilities,” said Maria, who still volunteers with JCM despite moving to North Dakota to attend college.
Maria started as a JCM volunteer at St. John Lutheran Church in Fairfax, Minn., where her father is the pastor. Always a lover of music, she led songs and helped direct the annual JCM Christmas program.
“That was probably my favorite part of Jesus Cares, getting to sing with the participants because they would just love it. They would just get so excited. God says to make a joyful noise and it was very joyful in there,” Maria said.
During her senior year of high school, Maria volunteered at a Joy in Jesus retreat, which gives those with disabilities a faith-based summer camp experience. There she met a camper named Amanda.
At chapel on the last day of camp, Amanda, close to tears, asked Maria, “Where is Jesus? I just want to see him.” It was an experience she’ll never forget.
“Amanda just wanted to see Jesus, just so badly that she started crying. It was really an emotional thing for me as well because I could tell that she really had the love of Jesus in her heart,” Maria said.
Maria feels connected in a special way with students at JCM because of the communication challenges she has faced, developing a stutter at age 6 that she still has.
“Sometimes it’s really hard to communicate with people. But I remember that we all have things. And the reason why our students are at JCM is because they have ‘things’ that God has given them to deal with or to work with,” Maria said. “It kind of helps us to bond because they’ll ask me about my stutter, and I’ll tell them how Jesus still loves me, and Jesus still blesses me and I still have friends just like you do.”
When Maria started college at the University of North Dakota (UND), where she studies music education, she searched for a way to stay involved and began volunteering at the JCM at River Heights Lutheran Church in East Grand Forks, N.D. The program is newer and started small, but has been growing steadily.
“I think that a lot of people think of it as Bible class where you sit there and have hour-long discussions on Revelations or something. And really, we just have a great time with our friendships that are made there. And we just smile a lot and have a lot of joy in learning about our Savior and making friends who we know we will have forever in heaven,” Maria said.
JCM can make a difference in your life too! Find a program near you to learn more about volunteering.