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Missed Contributions
Sometimes you offer your skills and get sidelined. Other times, you find ways to serve behind the scenes. Day 2 of this series is about both. These were moments where I wasn’t always in control, but still found ways to contribute—and learned what kind of collaborator I wanted to become.
American Leprosy Missions (late 1990s)
At the time, I was working in an administrative role at ALM and saw a real need for the organization to have a better online presence. I brought it up and volunteered to help—but the project was given to an outside agency.
To their credit, I was invited to serve on the internal committee that worked with the external firm. While I didn’t get to build the site myself, it gave me an early understanding of how agency partnerships work—and what often gets missed when internal voices aren’t fully heard.
It was disappointing, especially since I was deeply committed to the mission. And later, after some leadership changes and consulting involvement, my position was eliminated.
What I’d do differently today:
• Present a clearer case for internal expertise and in-house ownership
• Document ideas and mockups even if they’re not used right away
• Recognize the value of being in the room—even if I wasn’t leading the project
Unity Presbyterian Church (early 2000s) – Site has changed several times since I was there
Not long after, I began volunteering with Unity Presbyterian in Piedmont, SC. This time, I got to build the site from scratch using Dreamweaver. I posted weekly bulletins, managed event galleries, and eventually added sermon audio using an Edirol field recorder—years before podcasting was common.
I didn’t have much money to give at the time, but this was my way of serving. It was simple, consistent, and appreciated.
Travelers ARP Church/North Greenville Church
As my life shifted, I started attending a new church plant closer to where I lived. I did similar work there—web design, photography for events, and keeping things updated.
These church projects helped me gain practical experience, but more than that, they helped me stay grounded in a season where stability mattered more than spotlight.
What I’d do differently today:
• Build the sites in WordPress or a lightweight CMS
• Publish bulletins as blog posts with email options
• Use YouTube or Apple Podcasts for sermon distribution
• Make the system volunteer-friendly and sustainable for church staff to maintain
The Takeaway
Sometimes, your work is invisible.
Sometimes, you’re the second choice—or not chosen at all.
But showing up, contributing what you can, and learning from the process still moves things forward.
These moments taught me to:
• Stay humble but ready
• Serve with what I have
• Never underestimate the power of consistency over flash
Coming up next: Day 3 – Systems Thinking Before I Had the Words (Outreach North America)