CannonUnitedMethodistChurch
We are located in the Hope House Wellness Center on the Cannon United Methodist Church campus in: Snellville, Ga. 30078 Street Address: 2424 Webb Gin House Road. The Prayer Bearers are located in the basement, use the rear entrance.
Read the Prayer Bearer Prayer
Cannon United Methodist Church’s Prayer Bearer Ministry began in 2002. Our very own Cancer Survivor had a dream of a way she could combine her gratitude in surviving cancer with her work with the After School Kids and her wish to involve them in a ministry to children with cancer.
During the summer she began collecting material and supplies, recruiting adult helpers to cut and sew the bears, and that fall the Prayer Bearer Ministry was born.
Her early vision was to make 100 or maybe 200 bears the first year but God had a much larger plan in mind.
We began regular deliveries to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Eggleston and the two Ronald McDonald houses. Through workshops, the After School kids’ help and many people working on the bears at home we reached the milestone of completing 1,000 bears by the end of the first year of the ministry.
We are very grateful for the support we have received from groups and individuals, both inside and outside Cannon. Vendors donated knit material in various colors. We receive donations of decorator fabric samples, as well as material and other supplies donated by church members. We have also passed along the Prayer Bearer model to other groups who have started their own Bear Ministries.
By November 2004 we had made 2,578 bears and our founder decided it was time for her to step down from leading the ministry, so she could concentrate on just making bears. In January 2005, a new “Momma Bear” was initiated and January 2008 yet another “Momma Bear” took the reigns. Many individuals and groups have given their time and love as well as their prayers to help our ministry. It can not be done by just those leading, it is a cooperative effort from many and for that we are very grateful.
Prayer bearers are handmade, stuffed bears that represent a tangible evidence of prayer. They are made by members of Cannon Church who have loving hands and hearts. They are given to our Care Receivers, children at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Ronald McDonald Houses and Lighthouse Ministries. To date we have shared Christ's love by giving approximately 6,700 bears.
There is still much to do with this ministry and the stories we hear from those who have received the bears are heart warming and we are blessed to be a part of this wonderful ministry.