by Matthew Shineman, Director of Communications
At First Huntingdon United Methodist Church in Huntingdon, PA, the children and youth are discovering firsthand how faith in action can transform a community. During Sunday worship, the kids stay for children’s time before leaving for their own Bible study, always returning in time for the final hymn. Back in October, they returned with a jug in hand and a bold declaration: “We want to fill this with money to help children and youth in our community!” Pastor Duane Coy encouraged their initiative, and the group decided to focus on supporting the Huntingdon Area School District’s Backpack Program.
The following Sunday, following children’s time, the youth took the jug and gathered “noisy coins” on their way out. Before they left, they and Pastor Coy placed their hands on the jug and prayed over it. This continued for a few weeks. However, what began as loose coins quickly grew - the jug soon held nearly $300. On October 24, Bishop Burgos Núñez sent a note to the Conference regarding the impact of the government shutdown on food pantries and SNAP benefits. Inspired by this message, the kids and their leader, local Assistant Principal Adam Glasgow, decided to split the funds they collected: half for the Backpack Program and half for the nearby food pantry that had once operated out of the church.
Pastor Coy promised to match whatever the children collected, and the congregation responded generously. By the following Sunday, each organization would receive $400 - but the generosity didn’t stop there. A church member handed Pastor Coy a $200 check at the end of the service, and another donor followed the next day with the same, bringing the total to $600 for each program. Both the Backpack Program and the food pantry were “overwhelmed” and deeply grateful for the unexpected boost.
This act of service is part of a larger pattern of ministry at First Huntingdon UMC. Over the summer, the children helped pack and often hand out more than 625 bagged lunches to local kids in need - demonstrating that even a small congregation can make a significant impact. “You don’t have to be big or have lots of people to be effective in ministry,” Pastor Coy said, “If you ask people to help, they will.”
The church continues to collect “noisy coins and cash” each week, trusting God to show them where to serve next. Pastor Coy reflects, “The Lord is on the move. The Lord is teaching the kids to be missional.” These young hearts are learning what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus. If you’re ever in Huntingdon, stop by First Huntingdon UMC - you’ll be inspired by the generosity, faith, and determination of its youngest members.