Content and photo by Rev. Rick Pittenger, Milnor / Wyndmere / Sheldon UMC.

Rev. Francis Kinzler, a 90 year old, retired UMC pastor, who resides at a nursing home in Fargo, North Dakota, has been serving the Lord with his sewing skills. “Kinzler has been the go to seamster when it comes to making school bags for UMCOR mission kits, “ said Rev. Rick Pittenger, Milnor / Wyndmere / Sheldon UMC.

Photo: Rev. Fancis Kinzler, in the red shirt, supervising the family sewing crew one afternoon in Fargo.

A few weeks before Annual Conference was held in Bismarck, Kinzler’s health took a turn for the worse.  Pittenger said,  “He had lost his zip and zag.  He said I might as well take the 40 or so bags he had done;  I forgot to take them.  Prior to going to Annual Conference he was hospitalized and it looked like he wouldn't live to his 90th birthday.  Well, he was moved into hospice.  The family even celebrated his birthday the week before his birthday for fear that he might not live to see it.”

Pittenger went on to describe that everyone got it wrong.  Rev. Kinzler rallied, got his keys back to his electric wheel chair, and moved back to his old neighborhood in the nursing home.  When Pittenger went to visit with him, he asked Kinzler if he wanted Pittenger to take the bags he kept forgetting.  Kinzler said,  "Can you wait until next time? You see, my daughters are going to bring my sewing machine back and they're coming to help me get them done."

Sure enough, three of his daughters, one of which is also a resident at the same nursing home, and other relatives gathered and began helping Rev. Kinzler sew.  He was there more as a consultant most of the afternoon. Together they came close to finishing the 75-bag goal he had in mind.

“Thanks Francis, girls and family!  What a grand hands-on witness to sharing that you're never to old to do something for missions and also you're never too old to make a difference in this world,” said Rev. Rick Pittenger.

Each fall the Dakotas Conference collects mission kits that are delivered to UMCOR.  Click here to learn more about the collection.