“Respect, family, and excellence.” Three simple words, but for New Bedford’s New Life Church community, they capture something much bigger than a mission statement—they describe a community in action.
New Life Church’s mission is simple yet powerful: to be a church for those who don’t yet have one. Angela Lynch, a member of New Life Church, explained that their community is full of “people who love God and love people,” and that they have a deep commitment to reaching the unchurched and building meaningful connections.
The church strives to create a welcoming home for people seeking belonging and spiritual growth. Serving the community has always been at the heart of who they are. In addition to weekly services, the church regularly organizes outreach efforts at local shelters, youth and elderly homes, and through street teams—putting their mission of loving God and loving people into action.
That spirit of connection has fueled remarkable growth, expanding from a small group of 35 people into a flourishing church community with multiple services and hundreds of members.
As part of her role as outreach coordinator for New Life Church, Veronica Holmes researches meaningful ways for the church to serve the community in tangible ways. That commitment to service ultimately led them to GiftsToGive.
“GiftsToGive is an opportunity to help children and families in need in such a special way,” Lynch shared. “The way each recipient is honored stood out to us, and it was something we truly wanted to be a part of.”
Through this partnership, New Life Church volunteers play a hands-on role in preparing items for distribution. From inspecting and sorting children and adult clothing to cleaning shoes and toys, their efforts help ensure that every care package is thoughtfully assembled for the children and families in need who will receive them.
For their church community, volunteering isn’t just an activity — it’s an expression of faith.
“As a follower of Jesus, it is very important to help people in need and to do it with excellence. Jesus said, “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me,” and “do everything as if you were doing it for the Lord,” Lynch said, pointing to the belief that every act of service carries deeper meaning.
That belief doesn’t just shape why they serve—it also shapes how they build relationships and organize outreach through small groups called “crews”.
“Our church is very large, so we created small groups called crews where people can connect and grow in their relationship with God,” Lynch shared. “Each time our crews get together, we meet at someone’s home for Bible studies. Sometimes we read books related to our faith, or we discuss the sermon. We also do social activities like golf or going to concerts together. The goal is to grow closer to God by connecting with one another.”
Beyond fellowship and spiritual growth, these small groups also serve as the foundation for the church’s outreach efforts in the community.
“Every year, each crew is provided with a list of outreach opportunities they can participate in,” Lynch said. “Then our Outreach Coordinator, Veronica Holmes sends me the list of crew leaders who are interested in serving at GiftsToGive. This year, I had 27 crews interested.”
From there, Lynch coordinates the logistics that allow each group to take part throughout the year in an organized and consistent way.
“I put together a schedule for the year,” Lynch said. “It averages about four crews serving two Mondays a month from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. We usually have around 30 volunteers each time, and we’re able to get a lot done in a short period of time. A lot of crew members bring their spouses, children, and even grandchildren to help.”
The shared experience of volunteering together resonates most deeply with members of the New Life Church.
“The outpouring of positive feedback is endless,” Lynch said. “We have a thread where people post each time they serve, sharing pictures and words of gratitude from their time volunteering at GiftsToGive. They just love the heart behind it, and the meticulous manner in which each item is handled. As if they were providing for their own family members.”
For Lynch, the experience was eye-opening, “I think what surprised me the most is how many people in our area are suffering from poverty,” she said. “It’s easy to be ignorant in our day-to-day lives — but when you see the need and hear the statistics, it really stays with you.”
That awareness has sparked a deeper sense of responsibility within the group.
“I wish people realized how much everything we do matters — the smallest gestures make a difference,” she said. “Imagine what would happen if everyone gave even a small portion of what they have.”
At the core of New Life Church’s service are three guiding values: respect, family, and excellence—principles that define how they serve and how they see the community they care for. In every volunteer effort and every moment spent serving together, they reflect a community committed not just to giving back, but to doing so with care and intention.
Story by (Marissa Sebastiao)