Working unpaid for a church

[simmoshouse]

My daughter, who is due to finish university this year, will be staying in Leeds where she has studied for the past 3 years to work unpaid for her church - she believes its her calling and who am i to disagree, albeit i dont really understand it and would prefer her to pursue her career in virology. But hey as long as she's happy!

My main point is that she has little or no money, typical student, and i am therefore concerned how she will live whilst undertaking this "work". She has heard that she may be able to obtain some benefits towards her rent although this sounds a little tenuous and i wondered if anyone out there had some firm knowledge and advice on any help she can get. As her dad, i will of course, try and help her out from time to time but i also have another daughter at uni and one at home so it wont be to any great degree. She doest worry about money (the lord will provide etc etc) but someone has to.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[wonder3]

naomi24, yes it doesnt mean that Christians get off scott-free for everything - we are not going to live a perfect life just because we are doing what God wants us to do. We are also called to suffer for God, as Christ suffered. It says in the Bible to 'take up your cross and follow me'. It may seem crazy, but when you are living a life for God, you are prepared for whatever comes your way. Your friend was very brave to go to Zimbabwe and give her life as a missionary. I don't know her obviously, but I am guessing she wouldn't have wanted it any other way - she heard God's calling for her to be a missionary and she gave her life to that.

[naomi24]

Can't help thinking she'd have preferred not to have been butchered. God called her for what? To die? What good did that do her, God, or anyone else? What a load of twaddle!

[simmoshouse]

Naomi, I appreciate your points but you cant tar everybody with the same brush! Firstly she doesn’t really expect anything, it was I who was trying to find out if there was any assistance out there as a concerned parent, not with a begging bowl. With or without help she will get through as she always does.

Secondly the world today is very different and its typical of graduates to have a gap year prior/post their studies. Some opt to laze around, travel the world, try employment that may not be their chosen career path; and others do something voluntary/caring! Opportunities are endless and theyre only young once –I would have loved to gain some of the experiences that the young of today can sample before embarking on the next 40 years of slog and don’t begrudge it one bit – it makes them better people and there’s plenty of time to “give back”

As an employer myself and having discussed this with many other employers and University staff, “gap years” are seen as a welcome advantage in that it gives them life experiences and makes them more rounded and show’s their capability in many situations (which they may not experience for years in their working life!).

My daughter has worked really hard on her studies as Microbiology/Virology is a particularly tough degree full time including weekends – Her career is likely to involve finding cures or treatments for many serious diseases and hence high pressured given the aims and potential impact on others. As you can see, caring is a theme here and again I have to admire what she hopes to achieve both now and in the long term. I find it harsh that you have “placed her in a box” in your views.

Thanks for your “advice”, but on this occasion I wont be recommending that my daughter takes it up!

[naomi24]

You won't be taking me up on my advice to her to find a job, and you won't be paying her keep whilst she's unemployed either. You expect society to do that. Yes, harsh indeed!

[simmoshouse]

Goodness you really are bitter. Let me make it clear. I was hoping to find some small help, IF POSSIBLE. My daughter will be finding WORK when she returns home from her studies with the aim of getting MONEY behind her in readiness for her unpaid CHRISTIAN and CARING voluntary work which she will embark on later this year. I will also be HELPING to SUPPORT her as means allow BUT I too have responsibilities including 2 other children, one of which is also studying for her degree! SHE doesn’t EXPECT anything (nor do i) and know’s that she will get by with help (not money) from those who CARE, but she is not solely relying on anyone and certainly NOT SOCIETY!

I appreciate that you may have had events and experiences that have impacted your views but not everyone is the same!

[naomi24]

You're mistaken. I am not bitter, and I have no reason to be bitter - but I am realistic. I have no objection whatsoever to helping support people who are unable to help themselves, but I do object to my taxes shoring up those who are quite capable, but who prefer to live their dream instead. If your daughter wants to do this, and her church wants her to do it, then ask the church to help you support her. Don't expect others to forego living their dream to enable your daughter to live hers.

[simmoshouse]

Naomi, you clearly have your own agenda and cant be swayed from it. Some say being dogmatic is a quality but im not sure I agree. In her young life my daughter has and will continue to contribute to others fulfilling their dreams, probably more than most people do in their lifetime, including me, and certainly wont be expecting anyone to forego anything on her behalf. Fulfilment is more likely with a positive attitude, so I guess we will have to agree to disagree!

[naomi24]

Your opinions of my personality traits are irrelevant to this discussion, and I don't have an agenda. I simply cannot understand why you meet the suggestion that she applies for paid employment with one of the very worthy charities with such apparent horror. After all, she would then be helping people, which is what she wants to do, and she would be doing it without becoming yet another claimant on an already financially burdened society. Additionally, I feel that public money is better spent where it's really needed - and that isn't on people who are quite capable of working for a living but choose not to. Yes, I think that you and I will have to agree to disagree.

[redcrx]

is she looking for work at the same time as volunteering? your post seems to suggest the she will be working full time with them for a set amount of time.

Can she not lodge with others from the church for a small sum?

[craft1948]

I think you're daughter's intentions are very admirable simmo, and shows a deeply caring side which is sadly lacking in much of today's youth. I wish her every success with her church work and in her future career.

[standian]

Is there not the possibility of a compromise - a part time paid admin/cleaning/waitressing job or something... or possibly relief/bank work in a hostel or other homelessness project which is on an as and when needed basis, which can fund/contribute towards basic living costs, and still give time to volunteer for the church? She may still be able to claim some benefits to help with housing based on a low income as opposed to no income. I know people who are employed full time in homelessness services who still earn a low enough income that they are able to get some help with their rent. While I don't necessarily agree with her religious beliefs, I have always worked in homelessness and housing and so applaud her for doing that. Good luck to her and you.

[mollykins]

I don't think she would be able to claim job seekers allowence if she's doing voluntary work that fills all her time. Wouldn't the council say something like 'If she can't afford to do this voluntary work, shouldn't she give it up and get a proper job, with which she can support herself.' ???

[simmoshouse]

Redcrx,

She will be working full time for 12 months or thereabouts and will need to gauge at the time whether she can fit in some additional paid work. She is currently exploring the accommodation choices looking for very cheap and cheerful, and I guess that includes lodging!

Craft1948,

Thank you on behalf of my daughter for your kind comments of support.

[B00]

I too am astonished at some of the nastier comments aimed at simmo and his or her daughter here?

On severa lthreads, in the news category in particular, we are in the midst of ripping apart todays yoof, we (me included) see as callous, vicious, disrespectful scrotes. And yet here we have a young 'un, who's doing volunteer work for the community and she's still getting ripped apart- can't win!

I'm wondering how much of this venom is because she's doing it as part of a 'church thing'? If it was for something else...say Age Concern, would she also get this level of critisism?

I say good luck to her simmos, nice and refreshing to see someone wanting to give back to the community for a change.

[naomi24]

B00, she is not being ripped apart, and I've already said I'm sure her motives are admirable. I don't, however, agree that she should be funded, or partly funded, by the public purse since although she is, as you quite rightly say, giving something back to the community, she is also becomng an additional burden on the community. And regardless of organisation involved, be it the church or Age Concern, I would feel the same way. That's all.

[puzzfuzz]

I don't think you would Naomi you are so obviously atheistic in your views from earlier threads i have read. Why can't non believers just accept that there are those who believe. I have no problem with those who believe there is nothing after death. I wouldn't dream of being critical towards them.

I just think nowadays people think you are 'weird' for believng in God which is a shame. I think your daughter is admirable for doing what she is doing.simmoshouse, just don't get into a debate with these people they are obviously missing something in their lives.

[naomi24]

puzzfuzz, oh yes I would because it's a matter of principle, which is something few of you people seem to understand. Although her intentions are indeed commendable, quite simply she can't afford to do what she wants to do, and like all of us, if she can't afford it, then she can't do it - regardless of the organisation involved. Yes, people believe, but their belief doesn't give them the right to expect the rest of society to help support them whilst they do what they want to do. If she was working and needed extra financial support, I'd have no objection, but I think it's absolutely wrong for anyone who chooses not to work to ask for assistance. The only way I can see for her to get around this without becoming yet another burden on society - however small - is for her to live at home and work for a church locally.

You've brought my non-belief into this and that leads me to another thought. It seems that because a church is involved here people have abandoned their principles. I strongly suspect the reaction would be very different if someone asked for financial assistance to enable them to choose to work voluntarily for a non-religious organisation - and so it should be.

Oh, and by the way, having been a Christian in the past, I'm at a loss to understand what you think I am 'obviously' missing in my life, but it certainly isn't the penchant for discarding my principles when it suits me. Furthermore, if you think I believe there is nothing after death, you clearly haven't read my posts closely enough.