Texas church teams put faith into action in Acadia

Rayne, Crowley and Jennings residents have been the benefactors the past week of a “Living Center” composed by 130 young people and adults from the Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church Youth Mission (CTCYM).
Rev. Mary Gean Cope, who served as director of the Acadia group, explains the Texas high school students, accompanied by adults, form a “living center” in a partnership with a local host church congregation.
In this care, the Texas group banded with the First Methodist Church of Crowley and associated with First Presbyterian Church and First Baptist Church in Crowley.
The Crowley connection is two-way in this instance, says Rev. Cope, who is pastor of First United Methodist Church in Crowley, Texas. As she said, “I have had to pause a moment before saying Louisiana or Texas.”
The Crowley-based group arrived here Sunday, June 14, and departed Saturday morning, June 20.
Within that week, the youth and adults put their Christian faith into action by repairing and rebuilding homes and small facilities.
Among the projects undertaken were building sheds, handicap ramps, scraping and painting, tearing down and rebuilding porches, various clean-up tasks, plumbing, flooring and “all kinds of amazing stuff.”
There was no cost to the people served by the team, with the only requirement that those served owned their homes.
“I want to thank our clients because of the trust shown the workers,” said Rev. Cope, quickly adding that the experience “has created great relationships.”
CTCYM was formed in 1944 and in addition to the Acadia Parish group, 14 other volunteer working teams are or were located in Louisiana during June, said Rev. Cope.
The Living Center group, she continued, arrived as a self-contained unit, providing their needed supplies and tools, while buying materials, food and other needs locally.
For the past week, the girls have been housed at First United Methodist Church of Crowley, while the boys have been housed in First Baptist Church. First Presbyterian Church was the site for meals and daily programming.
Rev. Cope also made a point of thanking Rayne High School officials for opening their shower facilities to the volunteers.
Each Center is led by a well-trained, all-volunteer staff dedicated to providing participants with a spirit-filled week of service, devotions, worship, fellowship and fun!

By Paul Kedinger
Managaing Editor
Rayne Acadian-Tribune