Sunday, December 29, 2024 (PHOENIX, AZ) – On a mission to save the whole world one clean up at a time, volunteers from the Church of God in Phoenix, along with volunteers from the city department, gathered together to pick up trash at South Mountain Park. The park, which is popular with the locals because of its walking trails and scenic Dobbins Lookout, was littered with trash and various hazards.
Church of God Embodies The Heart of Mother
The volunteers, wanting to restore the park’s natural beauty and be of service to the community, donned bright smiles and bright yellow vests with the words “With the Heart of Mother” written across their backs. These words embody the mission of the Church of God to spread the love of Heavenly Mother throughout the world. As a mother cares for her children through great love and sacrifice, the volunteers eagerly desire to resemble these traits in their community service. Through this clean-up effort, the volunteers were able to show God’s love in their local community, making it safer and more inhabitable for all to enjoy the park.
“The love of a mother is really essential to foster growth and to foster peace as well. Since the beginning of this year, our resolution has been to really share Mother’s love,” said one of the church volunteers after participating in the event.
A Mountain of Trash Collected
Altogether, more than 140 volunteers spent the morning picking up trash and debris throughout the park. In the end, approximately a quarter ton of trash had been collected amounting to one momentous effort on the part of all the volunteers who were involved.
“I want them to know how grateful we are…they do a wonderful job while they’re here,” said Margaret Fernandez, a local park ranger.
This cleanup culminates an incredible year of volunteer work for the Church of God in Phoenix. They received the President’s Volunteer Service Award just weeks before due to a cleanup in Tucson, church members had the mind to continue their beautifying work in the community without rest. Just as a mother has no time to rest, is it clear the Church of God members are coming to resemble Heavenly Mother more and more each day and successfully completing the mission of sharing Mother’s love with the world.
