Church, Scouts teach lesson in brotherhood

Editor’s note: We received this information in a recent email from Jeanne Olds McCloy about Boy Scout Troop 41.
If you remember, Troop 41 from Patterson was in the news at the end of May due to their hut being in danger of being moved. That issue is still not resolved, but our scouts are still staying very active.
Well, here is a bit of good news. In the past several weeks there have been so many stories about racial issues that I thought I’d share this with you all.
Kerry and the scouts are staying in Dallas for two nights prior to their camp week in Oklahoma.
Their accommodation plans fell through at the last minute so Kerry was scrambling to find an inexpensive but safe place for 16 people to stay.
This one church called Victory Church and Ministries (Vcam) in Dallas offered to let them stay.
After arranging the details the pastor, Don Smith, sends Kerry a text and says, “You do realize we are an all black African American church, right?”
Kerry’s says, “You do realize we’re 16 white guys, right? And we’re fine with it if you are.” And they both laughed about it.
Funny thing is, he and his church offered to house them not even knowing details. All he heard was “we need a place to stay” and he said, “Yes, we will help!” Some churches explained that they didn’t have a place for them to stay overnight. Others just hung up on him.
So many try to play one race against the other, but in reality we are all children of God and should always act that way. No matter what color we are we are all equal and beautiful in the eyes of the Lord.
Today, after arriving in Dallas, Troop 41 grabbed some shovels and helped Pastor Smith to clean up his flower bed at the church (see photo at left). “Do a good deed daily” is the BSA slogan.
I’m proud of all of them.