Zachary United Methodist reaches out to Adopt a Soldier

Members of Zachary United Methodist Church in Zachary launched Operation Adopt a Soldier in October. The congregation decided to adopt a platoon that was recently deployed overseas. During the three month campaign, ZUMC gathered enough items to send 44 boxes overseas. The items that the congregation was asked to provide included devotionals, puzzle books, stationary, health care products, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste/toothbrush, hard candy, homemade cookies in vacuum sealed bags and drink mixes for bottled water.

On January 16, members of the  congregation met in the Children’s Building and started sorting all the donated items into boxes. The boxes were packed and the necessary customs forms that went out with each box were completed. A personal note was written for each soldier to accompany the care packages. Members gathered around the boxes after they were sealed and Dr. Greg Davis, senior pastor, prayed for the soldiers who would receive the boxes and gave thanks for the tremendous outpouring of love and support shown through the donations of items and support for this new outreach ministry. The boxes were then placed before the altar in the sanctuary on Sunday morning so that the congregation was able to see the fruit of their gifts prior to the boxes being shipped. The congregation plans to make this activity a regular part of their outreach ministry program.