By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
Local churches and Christian groups are working together to sponsor a week-long Youth Prayer Breakfast series March 22-26.
The gatherings will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Washington, said spokeswoman Lydie Jennings.
“This event for middle-school and high-school students is sponsored by Community Christian Events, which is a group comprised of area churches and Christian groups,” Jennings said. “Any group like this is welcome to contribute or volunteer to help.”
Volunteers are needed to help cook, serve, set up, shop for groceries and greet students, Jennings added. Approximately 15 volunteers are needed each day, in addition to those doing the cooking.
Weekly passes for the event are priced at $10 for students and $15 for adults. The prices cover breakfast each day as well as presentations by celebrity guest speakers.
“We want all kids to be able to come to this event, the ‘churched’ and the ‘unchurched,’” Jennings said. “We’re hoping that churches or civic groups will want to reach out to the ‘unchurched’ kids by buying tickets and giving them out to kids who might not be able to afford to come. Right now, I know of about 30 kids who would like to come, but can’t afford a ticket.”
Jennings said fundraising efforts are under way to help meet that need. Tickets are presently available at First Presbyterian, Metropolitan AME Zion, St. Peter’s, Beebe Memorial, First Baptist, First United Methodist, First Christian, First Church of Christ and Mt. Hebron Church of Christ.
Contributions to purchase tickets for area youths may be sent to Will Mayo, 102 W. Second St.. Washington, NC 27889; checks should be payable to Community Christian Events.
Guest speakers for the week are C.L. “Shep” Shepherd, Ali Rogers, Seth Franco, Mike Minter and Barbara Kennedy-Dixon, according to Jennings.
Shepherd, a former football player with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, said chasing fame and money was merely an attempt to attain temporary fulfillment. He accepted an invitation to partner with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and now strives to make a difference in others’ lives off the field.
Rogers, the reigning Miss South Carolina Teen, has worked to expand her role as a pageant winner. She has spoken to more than 6,000 students about the dangers of underage drinking, sharing her testimony and faith to youth audiences.
Franco, a former member of the Harlem Globetrotters, joined that team in 2003, becoming its first Caucasian player since 1942. After touring throughout the United States and Europe, he decided to pursue ministry full-time and now shares his personal testimony of his relationship with Jesus Christ with children, teenagers and adults.
Minter, a pillar of the Carolina Panthers from the time he joined the NFL team in 1997 until his retirement in 2007, also is a motivational speaker whose humor and insight encourages others to find their true purposes in life. He now serves as head of football operations/head football coach at First Assembly Christian School in Concord.
Kennedy-Dixon, a former Lady Tigers basketball player for Clemson University, became the first female in the history of the school to be inducted into the Ring of Honor. She currently works at Clemson University and is active in her church.
For more information about the Youth Prayer Breakfast, contact Lydie Jennings at 252-975-2383 or by e-mail at jennings15@suddenlink.net.