Frey adds local Prayer Box as Eagle Scout project

Special to the LPR

Among the musts to become an Eagle Scout, one must initiate and lead a service project that benefits their community.

Lockhart High School’s Cole Frey has done just that, constructing a Prayer Box at Faith/Fe Presbyterian Church. On Sept. 10, the church dedicated its new Community Prayer Box after Frey’s Eagle Scout project.

The Prayer Box is on the corner of Pin Oak and Aransas streets (behind Sonic) in order to allow anyone to submit a request for prayer. People don’t have to be a member or even a resident of Lockhart to use the Prayer Box, but the people of Faith/Fe want to walk with them on their spiritual journey “celebrating God’s participation in your life or sharing your need for prayer during the most desperate of times.”

“Our Church is beyond blessed to have a Community Prayer Box, and the Church is beyond grateful to Cole Frey for seeing this vision and bringing this project into fruition,” said Clerk of Session Marissa R. Mendez of Faith/Fe Presbyterian Church. Mendez is also the Committee Chair of Troop 109.

“I first met Cole Frey when he came to our troop from Cub Scouting,” said former Scoutmaster Dennis Coleman. “He was full of energy and excitement, and it was hard for him to sit still for very long. Over the next few years, Cole grew and matured into a terrific young man, still full of energy, but able to direct that energy into excelling at sports (especially track and field), academics, and into his Scouting endeavors.”

Coleman said Frey was a great example of what a Scout should be — hardworking, helpful, honest and cheerful. 

Coleman added, “I thought his Eagle Project was a unique and a worthwhile endeavor that will hopefully help the church get its message out and help the congregation for years to come.”

Frey said he hopes the Prayer Box will be a blessing to Faith/Fe Presbyterian Church and the Lockhart community.

“I was happy to lead this project, and I thank Troop 109 and Troop 1109 for their help in making this possible,” Frey said.

The church said it will gather the prayers from anyone who fills out the prayer requests and read them each Sunday. Also, around Ash Wednesday there are plans to burn the requests and use the ashes for its Ash Wednesday service. 

“This Prayer Box will allow our Church the opportunity to pray for those who may be afraid to walk through the doors of a church and ask for prayer,” Mendez said.

History of Scouts

In 1907, Lord Robert Baden Powell founded the Scouting program in England.  By 1912, the first Eagle Scout award was presented in the U.S. Eagle Scouts include Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg, Mike Rowe, and other notable politicians, authors, astronauts, and leaders of industry. 

Troop 109 in Lockhart has been a staple of the community since 1917, with 72 of its youth earning the Eagle Scout rank, the first obtaining the rank in 1926. 

Eagle Scouts must demonstrate skills in first aid, personal fitness, camping, cooking, and citizenship to their community, national, and world.