Lisa EndressFor Warren and Theresa Eshbach, giving has never been just about money. Instead, their lives have been shaped by consistently offering their time and talents. As residents of Messiah Village, the couple continues to weave service into the fabric of their daily lives.
Warren can’t remember a time when giving his time wasn’t second nature. “It has always been part of my ministry and vocation,” he shared.
As a teenager, he found himself teaching an adult Sunday school class, which he remembers as an early glimpse of the lifelong calling that would follow. Over the decades, he has served on various boards and committees, offering his leadership wherever it was needed.
Some of his most meaningful volunteer roles have taken him beyond meeting rooms. Warren spent many years as a volunteer chaplain with the Dover Fire Department, and later, a night chaplain in a local hospital. It was these experiences where he learned one of the central lessons of service—how to listen. “You hear the stories of the people you’re serving,” he explained. “That’s how we learn to respect our differences, is by listening to each other.”
At Messiah Village, Warren continues to offer his time generously, especially with the Pastoral Ministries team. He serves on several committees, teaches Pathways Institute for Lifelong Learning courses, and leads devotions.
Recently, he and his wife, Theresa, partnered with Messiah Village Community Life Pastor, Evie Telfer, to lead a “Faith and Racial Healing” study group. Together, the class volunteered with the Brethren Housing Association to furnish an apartment for a family transitioning out of homelessness.
Theresa’s journey of service mirrors Warren’s in its depth and heart. Guided by her personal faith statement—“time, talent, treasure”—she has always seen giving her time as essential to living out her values. Using her professional expertise, she served on multiple boards, including the Brethren Housing Association, where she found deep fulfillment in supporting women experiencing homelessness.
In this season of her life at Messiah Village, she gives her time by leading devotions, offering spiritual companionship to fellow residents, and
serving on committees.
For both Warren and Theresa, volunteering is not simply something they do, it’s an expression of who they are. Their lives illustrate a simple truth; giving takes many forms and it’s something everyone can do, regardless of financial means. As the Eshbachs have found, we often find that we receive even more in return.
