RHK Volunteer Spotlight - Ben Gottman

My name is Ben. I grew up in Rockford and design construction equipment for railroad maintenance. I've been volunteering at RHK for just over a year. I serve every other Wednesday doing the game station and every other Tuesday with the teen boys.

What drew me to RHK was the opportunity to serve and help teach those about Christ who may not know much about our Lord and Savior. I love discussion time with the teen boys. We get into reading the Bible and talking about the message for the night, and they'll ask all kinds of questions. It warms my heart at their curiosity and almost sponge-like yearning to understand. At these times, I truly feel the Holy Spirit moving the most. It's awesome when they all finally understand something we're discussing, and they'll all go, "Oohhhhhhh, makes sense."

Serving the kids keeps me yearning to return every week. This is my way of serving Christ - by being there for all of them. Mostly, I feel called to be there to do my best to help lead them in the ways of the Lord. These kids have a special place in my heart. The world works against them non-stop. I just want to be someone they can look to that is there for them.

If you are interested in volunteering at RHK, do it. Yes, these kids are a lot to handle some days, but God works in so many mysterious ways. Each night at RHK will guide you further in your faith and trust in the Lord. RHK teaches you patience, kindness, gentleness, and compassion. At any time, God can turn a heart of stone into a heart of flesh and warmth.

I volunteer at RHK because I get excited about the kingdom of God and want to see his hand upon Rockford, IL. The world needs Christ. It's best to start in the section of the world we live in.

Matthew 19: 13-14 says "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Let's all have that child-like faith and do our best to help these kids find theirs.