Walking Stick Days in New York: Hands Working Together for the Gospel

Mia Gyore and CP Foster running a molder rounding off ends of sticks. These molders can finish two sticks at the same time

Each summer, approximately 50 volunteers from across the NE US region gather for Walking Stick Days, a joyful time of fellowship, hard work, and ministry preparation. This year’s event was held July 8–10 at Pilgrim Holiness Church in Marcy, NY, where dedicated hands assembled an incredible 22,000 walking sticks and 15,000 sets of beads and cords—all tools for sharing the message of Christ.

The project is a true team effort, uniting people of all ages and backgrounds in one common mission.

12 year old John Marrone operating a drill press. John is Pastor Rob and Sue Andreas’s grandson. He worked every day!

One of the most demanding tasks—bundling the finished sticks in groups of 40 for storage—was faithfully handled by Hank and Liz Hugenbois from Canada (on the left picture), while Laurie Bedford, Al Witt, and Pastor Rob Andreas (on the right picture) diligently operated the machines to keep production running smoothly

Throughout the event, the fellowship hall buzzed with activity.

In the fellowship hall, Laura Sorrentino of Pennsylvania (on the left picture) helped coordinate the many workers tying cords and beads, while Ed and Gail Westfall of the Mohawk Valley Chapter and Russ Bedford of the Mountain Valley Chapter (on the right picture) punched holes in the stick cards—a small task that saves a cent per card, adding up significantly when producing 30,000 at a time

Roberta Chapman and Jane Phillipson from Hope Alliance Church (on the left picture) faithfully worked each day tying cords and beads, while Doreen Williams (on the right picture) operated a drill press to keep production moving efficiently

Walking Stick Days is more than just a work event—it’s a beautiful picture of the Body of Christ serving together. Every bead, every drilled hole, and every tied cord represents a future opportunity to place a simple walking stick—and the Gospel message it carries on the special tag—into someone’s hands after telling the gospel story. Thus, they are facilitated in telling the story to others. That spurs multiplication of believers.