The PET Project: Local Service, Global Impact

“Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, 'We have seen remarkable things today.'"

Luke 5:26 – The crowd’s reaction to Jesus’ healing of the paralyzed man

Over 20 million people in developing countries are unable to walk.

Few have access to the wheelchairs and mobility devices we take for granted.

These facts led a missionary to do a remarkable thing: develop the first Personal Energy Transport (PET) in 1995.  The PET Project is an international movement that has since provided 38,000 PETs to the needy in 100 countries.  God is at work in PET International (see: http://petinternational.org ) to provide cost effective and appropriate mobility for all of God’s children in need.

Christ Community Chapel (CCC) is part of the remarkable things God is doing in northeastern Ohio. Since early August, CCC’s  support of the Stow affiliate of the PET Project is gaining momentum.  CCC has provided financial help, and has mobilized over 65 volunteers to be prayer partners and workers supporting the PET Project.

How has Christ Community Chapel stepped up? A CCC member is the owner of Blaze Technical Services, and has donated 2,800 square feet of production space.  Additionally, GS Steel is donating all the metal parts, including labor, needed to produce PETs locally. GS is owned by a CCC member, and many members are employees. Likewise, three CCC members have led efforts to upgrade the electrical systems of the production area, with all labor and materials being donated. To construct the production area, which is now almost ready to start building PETs, CCC members have provided many hours of labor.

Almost all major production equipment has been donated.

PETs are intended for use in developing countries. However, one CCC volunteer, Chuck Feldman, was to inspect and refurbish donated PET production equipment and write safety protocols. Chuck, who is 82, came to the PET facility with a walker. However, in no time he was using a PET for transportation in doing the survey.

So, what will the global impact be?

For starters, missionary Tim Spurrier of Hospital Shalom in Guatemala has met with PET Project leaders. The first PETs are to be shipped there.  Many will be distributed by the CCC missions team led by Sandy Andrassy in July, 2014.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

John 14:12

Do you want to do great things?

To volunteer or donate, please contact Lee Petno, the PET Project Ministry Coordinator, at 330.686.4949