‘Deborah’ show to host ‘speed churching’

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Want to experience what services are like at several of the area’s churches all in one night?

Then go to Taste of Watch Night, which will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. New Year’s Eve in the LinMar Strategies studio on the fourth floor of the PNC Bank Building, downtown.

Pastors and music ministries will each give a short showcase of their churches. Refreshments and door prizes will be included, and the public is welcome to the all-ages event.

Tickets are $5 (free for children 5 and under) and are available online at thedeborahshow.com; at Goldie’s Flowers on Belmont Avenue; and at the door. For more information, call 330-746-1109.

The event is sponsored by Deborah Benton, host of the “Deborah” cable show, which is filmed in LinMar studios, and it will be televised.

Participating pastors will include Michael Harrison of Union Baptist Church and Union Baptist Dance Ministry; Leon Thompson of Friendship Baptist Church (Warren); Al Yanno of Metro Assembly of God; Lock Beachum Jr. of Victory Christian Center; Kevin Crum Sr. of New Hope Baptist Church; Kenneth Simon of New Bethel Baptist Church; and Shawn Tyson of Calvary Ministries International.

Musical artists will include Karen Clark-Green Dance Ministry; Grammy-winner Billy Beck and the Holiday Trio; and Carlton Jenkins, Martha Conyer and Amber Monroe.

Each pastor will give a 10-minute sermon, and the artists will perform.

“I guess you could call it ‘speed churching,’” said Benton.

“This will be a really fun evening where people from all over can sample area ministries in a neutral environment, and hopefully be encouraged to attend a service that same night — where they can worship in the New Year.”