Bishop Swanson and Lee Greenwood meet after breakfast

NASHVILLE––Mississippi Area Bishop James Swanson offered encouraging words to 1,500 people attending the “Duty to God” breakfast as part of the national gathering of Boy Scouts of America.

“As a youngster, one of my favorite players was Maury Wills, a shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers,” the president of the General Commission on UM Men told Scouts and leaders attending the May 22 breakfast.

“In 1962, he set a record by stealing 104 bases. But Maury also set another record during his career that very few baseball buffs ever talk about. In 1965, he was caught stealing a record 31 times in a single season.”

Swanson said Maury’s failures to reach second base did not deter him from dusting himself off trying again even when it caused pain.

“We can also depend on trustworthy Scouts to shoulder their responsibilities,” said Swanson. “The demands on their lives to be faithful, to be reliable and to be loyal will never stop coming.

Following the presentation, Wayne Perry BSA president and Wayne Brock, chief scout executive presented the bishop with a shadow box containing a painting by Norman Rockwell and silver medallions representing the 12 points of the Scout law.

Music for the event was provided by Lee Greenwood and Scouts from several states were presented with scouting awards.

Guests also received copies of the Boy Scout edition of Strength for Service to God and Community and a video featured the scouting ministry of Lovers Lane UMC in Dallas.

Joshua McDonald, an Eagle Scout at McKendree UMC in Nashville, delivered the benediction.