News - Queensland youth "revved up" to help

Pastor Martin Losi, with one of the two bikes sent to the Solomon Islands.

South Queensland youth get “revved up” to help
Brisbane, Queensland

Young people in Brisbane, Qld, during Youth Week of Prayer have donated enough money to sponsor 19 motorcycles for district directors in Papua New Guinea. Originally asked to provide the sponsorship portion for only two motorcycles at $A750, the young people far exceeded expectations, raising $A14,250 during the week.
Pastor David Lawson, coordinator of the motorcycle project, was overwhelmed by the support shown. “Praise the Lord for such a wonderful, generous group of young people,” he said. “Give the youth a vision and they will respond.”
A brand-new Yamaha motorcycle was on display under the Week of Prayer theme, “Going God’s Way—Full Throttle.” Each night an offering was taken up. During the Sabbath program, more than $A6000 was raised. One young person’s parents heard about the project and gave five sponsorships.
Last year Pastor Lawson set a goal of funding 10 motorbikes for district directors around the South Pacific Division (SPD). The SPD sponsored 50 per cent of eight bikes and eventually money for 11 was raised. This year, Pastor Lawson set the target at 20, after which “The Quiet Hour” program in the United States agreed to pay half for the first 20 bikes. Yet with the help of the young people, the total has already become enough to fund 23 motorbikes and there are 20 on order. So Pastor Lawson has increased his target for this year to 30.
“I will have to come up with another exciting project to put to the young people for the 2008 Youth Week of Prayer,” says Pastor Lawson.—David Lawson/RECORD staff