West Virginia Volunteers-in-Mission 2007 Volunteer of the Year Ben Elkins! A West Virginia United Methodist Volunteers-In-Mission Proclamation Given by Tom Clark Ben Elkins Day Saturday, June 9, 2007
West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, West Virginia In one of his teaching moments, Jesus is quoted as saying, “Let the little children come to me, for to such belongs the Kingdom of heaven”. Ben Elkins, from Romney, West Virginia understands these words. Ben heard these words many years ago and continues to hear these words, even today. His love and devotion to United Methodist Volunteers-In-Mission work teams is legendary. He stands as a quiet testament to God’s people everywhere. All around the world people have fallen in love with Ben. It started in Romney with his devotion to the Boy Scouts. It continues in Burlington, West Virginia with his commitment to Burlington Family Services. It can be seen in an orphanage in Sergiev Posad, Russia, home to nearly 400 mentally and physically disabled children and youth. He loves them as if they were his own. You will find that he is loved at a boy’s orphanage in Almazovo, Russia where a playground and sports complex was built with money raised by Ben. He is known and loved in New Plymouth, New Zealand where he shared in a UMVIM trip in March of 2006. And, he will be loved this September where he will participate in a work team to Hungary. He is known and loved in West Virginia too. If you are ever around Ben for very long you will find that he has much to say. It is one of his endearing qualities. He really knows much about everything and isn’t afraid to share it with anyone. Just yesterday Ben was seen at the Volunteers-In-Mission display table, explaining to all who would listen, and a few who weren’t listening, how the Russians make those Matrushka Dolls anyway. This year, West Virginia United Methodist Volunteers-In-Mission wants to recognize one of the great servants of the church and my friend who quietly takes the little children to himself, for he knows that they belong to Jesus who loves all the little children of the world. Therefore, I proclaim this day that Ben Elkins is the volunteer of the year of the West Virginia United Methodist Volunteers-In-Mission ministry.
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