CHILDREN SHARE PRAYERS WITH FIRE, POLICE OFFICERS

After six weeks of praying for police officers' and firefighters' safety and well-being, the prayer patrol children of LaCroix United Methodist Church finally met their heroes Sunday afternoon.

The children had been praying the safety of each officer they were paired with, said program coordinator Marsha Edwards.

To show their appreciation and gratitude, many officers and firefighters attended Sunday services at the church. But that was just the beginning.

"That's a bunch of things to know," said 4-year-old Meredith Caldwell as firefighter Kris Stoffregen explained the workings of a fire truck.

Stoffregen and Capt. Robert A. Thompson braved more than the cool and damp weather Sunday afternoon as they offered a parking lot tour of Rescue Engine No. 4.

Twenty-five children wanted to ride in the front of the fire engine, sound the sirens and demand answers to such penetrating questions as "What does that do?" -- and all at the same time!

The power of prayer was paying off. The firefighter and his captain were beneficiaries of the children's prayers, and they were glad to extend dividends.

"Where's the yellow fire truck?" demanded a boy with a puzzled face.

"Well," Stoffregen explained, "we use it for aircraft crashes."

The children were relentless. Thompson was swamped with questions, directions and demands of all types. He had met his match but didn't care.

"The children are our motivation and to know these kids are praying for us means a lot," said Fire Chief Dan White.

"It feels great to know that they are taking time out of their day for me and for us," White said. "It's pretty special."

Police Cpl. Kevin Orr echoed the sentiment.

"It gives a feeling of comfort knowing that someone is out there caring for you," Orr said.

The rookie run of the prayer patrol event was so rewarding and positive that next year it will be a definite event, said Edwards.

"It was a good way for us to let them know we appreciate them," said Lisa Campbell, mother of Jenna Campbell, 8, a patrol participant.