SOUTH POINT – Bear stories have filled church pews at South Point United Methodist for weeks.

Wednesday, August 09, 2000

SOUTH POINT – Bear stories have filled church pews at South Point United Methodist for weeks.

"It’s fun to listen," pastor Pete Shaffer said.

"Some are about where they went to such and such a place or different yard sales where they found them," he said.

"We even had a box of them sent through the mail from a family in northwest Ohio who had read about it in church newsletter."

Yet, the congregation’s not interested in starting a zoo.

They’ve been collecting hundreds of Teddy Bears and other stuffed animals – all destined to become a child’s friend one day.

The animals – 342 in all – end up at the Lawrence County Department of Jobs and Family Services, formerly the Department of Human Services, for case workers to use when they make home visits or are working with children, Shaffer said.

"They came and spoke to the congregation a couple of weeks ago," he said. "When they do interventions, especially with children who don’t want to talk or open up, giving that child a stuffed toy really breaks the ice and sometimes kids will talk to animals when they won’t talk to people."

This is the fourth year South Point United Methodist has collected stuffed animals, bringing them into church and placing them on pews, around the pulpit, really all around the church, Shaffer said.

"It’s becoming a tradition and people get a kick out of seeing the stuffed animals in church on Sunday," he said.

And, God said let all the little children come to Him and the church feels like this collection is one way to practice such a children’s ministry, Shaffer said.

"We don’t know who the children are and they don’t know who we are, but we can share a little love with these kids," he said.

"So the people in our congregation go all out and have a great time."

Jobs and Family Services officials picked the toys up Tuesday.

Shaffer is confident they will help the social workers and case workers – both to deal with the difficult situations they find themselves in, and to make life a little easier on a child that’s in its own difficult situation.

"It’s a helping hand," he said.

Or, paw, as the case may be.