PEOPLE

PEOPLE
Interim pastor
YOUNGSTOWN -- Martin Luther Lutheran Church's new interim pastor, the Rev. John W. Tickner, will conduct his first service there Sunday.
He's been serving as an assistant to the bishop at the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He's a 1964 graduate of Thiel College.
Evangelist to speak
CORTLAND -- Evangelist Freddie Gage of Euless, Texas, will speak at 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sept. 9 at Cortland Trinity Baptist Church.
Gage grew up in a Houston slum where he was involved in gang activities. He will speak on "All My Friends Are Dead" at the 6 p.m. service, which will have a youth emphasis.
There will be a pizza party for teens at 5 p.m. Call (330) 637-1421.
EVENTS
School prayer service
YOUNGSTOWN -- An interfaith prayer service will be at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 27 on Federal Plaza to pray for pupils, families and educators. Christian, Jewish and Islamic leaders plan to take part.
The service is being organized by the Rev. Patricia Christ, pastor of Richard Brown Memorial United Methodist Church.
She's a proponent of public education who hopes to make the service an annual event.
Back-to-schoolprayer breakfast
YOUNGSTOWN -- Sister Shanise McElroy of New Salem Baptist Church in Columbus will be the speaker when Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church has a back-to-school prayer breakfast for parents and children from 8:30 to 10:15 a.m. Aug. 26.
200th anniversary
COLUMBIANA -- Midway Mennonite Church will be the site of a celebration of 200 years of Mennonite presence in the Mahoning Valley.
The Leetonia and North Lima Mennonite churches will also take part. Worship is at 10 a.m. Saturday. There will be a picnic lunch, and storytelling at 1 p.m.
Charismatic renewal
CANFIELD -- The Diocese of Youngstown's Charismatic Day of Renewal begins at 9 a.m. Sept. 29 at The Ursuline Center.
A Mass that begins at 4 p.m. will conclude the program. The speaker will be the Rev. Vince Freeh, director of the Sacred Heart Retreat and Renewal Center in Youngstown.
The $20 cost includes lunch for people who register before Sept. 15. Call (330) 424-7648 or (330) 788-5537.
Anniversary speaker
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Rev. Gary Brown, pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Erie, Pa., formerly of Youngstown, will speak when the adult choir of Mount Gilead Baptist Church celebrates its 31st anniversary at 4 p.m. Sunday. The theme is "We've Come This Far by Faith."
Joint services
WARREN -- First Presbyterian Church and First United Church of Christ will have joint services.
First United's pastor, the Rev. Martin Hardy, will preach when his congregation goes to First Presbyterian on Sunday. First Presbyterian's pastor, the Rev. William M. Youngblood, then will preach when his congregation goes to First United on Aug. 26. Both services are at 10 a.m.
Spiritual families
BOARDMAN -- Author and expert Bill Urbine, will present "Sacred Relations: Raising a Spiritual Family" from 2 to 6 p.m. Sept. 23 at St. Charles Borromeo Church.
Urbine's workshop offers parents practical ways to prevent spiritual hunger in their homes.
The workshop is free. Make reservations by Sept. 16 by calling (330) 758-0600.
Special speaker
FARRELL, Pa. -- Evangelist Brenda Todd of Azusa International television ministry will speak when Triumph Christian Center Church has its annual women's conference.
The program will be presented at 6:30 p.m. today and 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
Awareness program
LIBERTY -- First Christian Assembly will present a 50-day spiritual adventure for all ages titled, "Seeing the Unseen Christ: How His Presence Transforms Life."
The program will run Sept. 9 to Oct. 28. People will keep journals, read Scripture and apply lessons through actions.
Call (330) 759-2272.
Spirituality day set
WARREN -- The Benedictine Sisters of the Byzantine Church at Queen of Heaven Monastery will offer study and prayer from 1 to 5 p.m. Sept. 22.
Monsignor George Appleyard, pastor of St. Anne's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Austintown, will discuss the historical and theological growth of the Byzantine church. There will be time for reflections, questions and coffee. There's no fee.
To register, call (330) 856-1813 by Sept. 19.
83rd anniversary
STRUTHERS -- The Rev. Wesley I. Reid of Lee Memorial A.M.E. Church in Cleveland will speak at 4 p.m. Aug. 26 when St. John's A.M.E. Church celebrates its 83rd anniversary.
For more information, call (330) 755-8691.
MUSIC
Band concert
BOARDMAN -- The Canfield Community Band will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Western Reserve Baptist Church. People should bring chairs. An offering will be taken.
Blackwoods to play
NORTH LIMA -- The Blackwood Gospel Quartet will perform at 7 p.m. Sept. 1 at the North Lima Mennonite Church. The Grammy-award winning group is based in Knoxville, Tenn. A ham dinner will be available from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Donations may be made for either the concert or dinner. For more information, call (330) 549-2333.
Free youth concert
CAMPBELL -- Sanctus Real and Sounds of Glory will perform during Extreme Rock 2001 at 6 p.m. Aug. 31 at Roosevelt Park. Admission is free. Nonperishable food may be donated to the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley. The event is sponsored by Christ Community Church.
Family to sing
SALEM -- The Singing Apple Family will perform Southern gospel music at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Salem Church of the Nazarene.
Praise music
EAST LIVERPOOL -- Long's Run Presbyterian Church will have a praise music concert at 5 p.m. Sunday followed by an ice cream social.
Sunday night concert
YOUNGSTOWN -- Northside Baptist Church will have a "Sunday Night Concert" with Lori Porter at 6 p.m. Aug. 26.
There will be free hot dogs. Call (330) 759-9260.
McDonald's competition
YOUNGSTOWN -- Four local choirs will take part in the McDonald's Gospel Choir Competition starting at 2 p.m. today at Greater Friendship Baptist Church. One is the combined choir of Greater Baptist.
The others are Temple Emmanuel Seventh-day Adventist Church's Divine Truth Choir, Christian Bible Baptist Church's Fellowship Choir, and the Mount Gilead Baptist Church Youth Inspirational Choir. The winning choirs from Youngstown, Cleveland and Canton will take part in a final competition in Cleveland.
OTHER NEWS
NEW CASTLE -- Club Fusion for junior high pupils through college students will be from 8 to 11 p.m. Aug. 25 at Calvary Temple.
CANFIELD -- Reservations must be made by Tuesday to join Canfield Life Center's bus trip to the Living Bible Museum in Mansfield on Sept. 1. For reservations and information on costs, call (330) 782-5951.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Barnstone Ministries will present a 12-week weight-loss program at 7 p.m. Thursdays beginning Sept. 6. The program combines nutrition guidance with Christian beliefs. The cost is $25. Call (724) 654-0732.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Bread of Heaven Ministry Inc. of Sharon will have a program for young women titled "What God's Love Has to Do With It" at 6 p.m. Thursday at the YMCA in Youngstown.