Dave Dravecky to address Men’s Rally in the Valley in May

Staff report

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Dave Dravecky, former Youngstown area resident and Major League Baseball pitcher, and the Rev. Gary Frost, president of Concerts of Prayer in New York and former pastor of Rising Star Baptist Church, lead the lineup of speakers for the first Men’s Rally in the Valley on May 8 at Covelli Centre.

The Promise Keepers-style event for men only challenges participants to demonstrate their faith.

Dravecky, known as a Christian motivational speaker and author, played with the San Diego Padres (1982-87) and San Francisco Giants (1987-89). Cancer in his arm ended his baseball career. He wrote two books about his battle with cancer and a Christian motivational book, “Called Up.”

The Rev. Mr. Frost leads Concerts of Prayer, a Christ-centered network of pastors and churches promoting prayer across ethnic, economic and denominational lines. He also is pastor of Evergreen Baptist Church, Brooklyn, N.Y. Mr. Frost served as executive director of Metropolitan New York Baptist Association from 2004 to 2007.

Other speakers will be:

Jim Lewis, men’s ministry leader at Lakewood Church in Houston, the largest church in the U.S. He’s a former Valley resident.

Rev. Chett Williams Garlington, lead operations pastor at Covenant Church of Pittsburgh.

Rev. Kenneth Paramore, pastor at Christian Revival and Discipleship Center, with locations in Youngstown and Akron.

Rev. Ricky Riggs, conference speaker and founder of Oak Springs Ministry in Carrollton, Ohio.

Bill Triplett, speaker, former National Football League running back and Youngstown resident.

Mayor Jay Williams will give opening remarks for the conference, which begins at 9 a.m. and continues through 5 p.m. Bob Popa, president of Bob Popa Entertainment and Youngstown radio personality, will be master of ceremonies.

“These are men of prayer and commitment,” said Walter “Bing” Newton, leader of Men of Faith, the group organizing the rally.

For information, contact Newton at (330) 427-6578 or the Rev. Mr. Moncrief at (330) 744-8103. “They are preparing challenging messages for us, and we have been praying for them for weeks. We’re very confident that these men will deliver God-inspired words that will have a godly impact on Youngstown-area men and their families — and their communities,” Newton said.

Tickets are on sale now at the event’s Web site at www.mensrally.org for $15 plus a $1 service charge. The price includes a lunch provided at the Covelli Centre.