Missions Recognition Moment
October 17, 2007
Saint Francis UMC has long been a supporter of scouting, a faith based organization, by being a Charter Organization for several scouting units. It’s Boy Scout Troop 202, among the largest in the council, has been recognized for having a tradition of community service. One annual service project has been rescuing discarded bicycles from the county waste management system and repairing them for reuse; which, in turn earned them a coveted national conservation award for the highest form of waste conservation, that of reuse instead of recycling.
This year an Eagle Scout candidate, Mr. James Anderson, took control of this project as an Eagle Scout service project and led the troop in repairing 45 bikes. He generously donated all of the bikes and remaining project funds to the Saint Francis UMC Missions Committee. Last weekend the scouts and the missions committee delivered 30+ of these bikes to very needy people in the Raleigh area. Deliveries will continue until all repaired bikes are reused.
The bikes were delivered to 6 refugee families identified to us by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. These families are new to the United States and do not know the language well enough to take the driving tests and also cannot afford an automobile. The bicycles will be their main mode of transport for getting to work and getting food and such. There were 3 families from Burundi, 1 from Vietnam, 1 from the Congo, and 1 from Burma. These are Christian families that have escaped persecution in their native countries, trying to make a new start in a land with freedom of religion. It was such a joy to see the faces of the children and adults as they received the bicycles and immediately rode them all over the neighborhoods.
What a great service opportunity for all involved! Thank you Saint Francis UMC, thank you boy scouts, and thank you to all who helped make this happen. When you reflect back on this time remember this scripture, “God in not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown to Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10.
If you are leading a key event and want to communicate news to the troop, contact the webmaster to have information posted.