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Thousands of men to Rally for Valley
By SEAN BARRON
YOUNGSTOWN
Early next month, thousands of men are expected to gather at the Covelli Centre, but they won’t be on hand to see their favorite performer or sports team.
Instead, their visit will be heavily spiritual.
That’s because they will be participants in the first Men’s Rally for the Valley event, set for 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 8 at the facility.
The main thrust of the nondenominational conference is to bring together several thousand men of all faiths and challenge them to live up to the ideals of their faith, organizers said during a meeting and news conference Thursday at the Covelli Centre to discuss the event.
“We want God to transform our city and draw men to him,” said Bill Triplett of Youngstown, a former NFL running back and one of the event’s nine scheduled speakers.
Along with prayer, plenty of music and drama are on tap, including skits by 34west, a New York City-based theater company, as well as worship music from four Mahoning Valley church praise bands.
Wednesday marked the first of 30 consecutive nights of prayer at area churches that will lead up to the rally, noted Bob Popa, a longtime radio voice on WPIC-AM in Sharon, Pa. The gathering will be based largely on principles espoused by Promise Keepers, Popa said.
Promise Keepers is a 20-year-old Christian evangelical ministry founded in Denver that lists as its main purpose uniting men to change the world by challenging them to live by the Seven Promises, including one to build strong families and marriages through love and biblical values, according to its Web site.
So far, 510 churches, most in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys, will be represented, Popa noted. The event will likely also draw churches and people from Pittsburgh, Cleveland and throughout the region.
One of Youngstown’s biggest challenges is helping young men who lack positive role models and respect for women, Mayor Jay Williams said, adding that it is hoped the rally will give participants added tools to be better husbands, fathers, brothers and mentors.
The event’s short-term benefits will be allowing the men an opportunity to be candid about their weaknesses, beliefs and emotions, Williams predicted.
In the long run, the event will cause some to become tired of, and want to reverse, a lifestyle of violence, Williams predicted. It also can help re-establish the importance of certain societal values, he said.
“The transformation in our community will be accelerated May 8,” the mayor added.
Tickets are $15 each and can be bought by going to www.mensrally.org.
The nine-hour nondenominational event May 8 at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown is designed to bring men of all walks of life together to challenge them to “walk the walk” of their faith. Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams will speak. Others set to address the estimated 5,500 men are:
Dave Dravecky: former Major League Baseball pitcher, Boardman native and author of the book “When You Can’t Come Back.”
The Rev. Gary L. Frost: president of Concerts of Prayer in New York City, Youngstown native, and former pastor of Rising Star Baptist Church, Youngstown.
Jim Lewis: men’s ministry leader at Lakewood Church in Houston.
The Rev. Chett Garlington: operations pastor with Covenant Church of Pittsburgh.
The Rev. Ken Paramore: pastor at Christian Revival & Discipleship Center in Youngstown.
The Rev. Ricky Riggs: pastor of Oak Spring Ministry in Carrollton, Ohio.
Bill Triplett: former NFL running back of Youngstown.
Bob Popa: longtime local radio personality.
Source: Event organizers