Akron’s Connor Weber spent much of his time this summer creating a place of peace at EMERGE Ministries Inc.
“It’s a huge gift to the ministry. We have wanted to do something with this space for years, but our budget hasn’t allowed us to,” said John M. Palmer, president of the Akron-based Christian counseling center. “Every time I walked by and looked at the brick wall, I would say to myself: ‘This would be a good place for a prayer garden.’ ”
Palmer’s wish is now a reality, thanks to Weber, 17, who completed the garden last week as an Eagle Scout project.
The St. Vincent–St. Mary High School senior and member of Boy Scout Troop 1 at First Baptist Church in Akron said that the project took 108½ hours and the help of 19 volunteers, including seven Scouts from his troop. It cost $596.
Weber “raised all the money for the project by sending letters to family members and friends asking for donations and he spent time researching plants and even talked to a landscape architect,” said his father, Keith Weber. “He planned and executed and led the project, which are requirements for the Eagle Scout rank.”
To achieve the Eagle rank, Scouts must meet a list of requirements, including being active in the troop for at least six months after earning the rank of Life Scout. The Scout also must demonstrate that he lives by the principles of the Scout Oath and Law in his daily life and he must have earned 21 merit badges (10 more than needed to be a Life Scout). Eagle is the highest rank in scouting. Only 4 percent of Scouts reach this rank.
Weber said he chose EMERGE (which stands for Exploring, Maximizing, Encountering, Researching, Growing), after speaking with a family friend who is a counselor there.
The organization, at 900 Mull Ave., serves about 350 people a week.
“I just want this to be a place where people can come and get a good sense of peace and a place where they can relax,” said Weber, a parishioner at St. Sebastian Catholic Church in West Akron.
“I want it to be something that can help the people here at EMERGE for years. It’s designed to last and be low maintenance. All they need to do is pull a few weeds and water it.”
The prayer garden wall, which is a buffers against traffic noise, cradles a bench where people can sit and reflect.
Two plaques attached to the wall provide words of encouragement: “Prayer is less about changing the world… and more about changing ourselves” and “Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of God.”
The bricked area enclosed by the wall includes potted plants and flowers. The landscaped area surrounding the garden is mulched and decorated with perennial plants and flowers.
“The people we serve here are carrying some heavy burdens and it is wonderful to be able to offer them this space to come to think and reflect,” Palmer said.
“It is also important for our staff to have a place to go for a five-minute vacation in the midst of a busy day. I have already used the prayer garden because as the leader of EMERGE, I always want to stay in touch with God. It certainly is a peaceful place.”
Colette Jenkins can be reached at 330-996-3731 or cjenkins@thebeaconjournal.com.