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Rally to challenge area men
Men’s rally details
Men’s Rally in the Valley will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Covelli Centre in downtown Youngstown with the theme “Let’s Meet at the Cross.” Bob Popa, local DJ and radio personality, will be host for the second year.
Speakers: Bishop Joseph Garlington, senior pastor at Covenant Church of Pittsburgh and presiding bishop at Reconciliation Ministries International; Joe White, author of 23 books and president of Kanakuk Kamps in Branson, Mo.; Sherman Smith, a Youngstown native and North High School graduate, running-backs coach for Seattle Seahawks; David L. Thomas, lead pastor at Victory Christian Center in Coitsville; Dr. Don Bartlette of North Canton, who will discuss growing up as an Indian child with severe handicaps; and David Kohout, director of Talk is Cheap, which focuses on building character and hope in Northeast Ohio youth. Bishop George V. Murry of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown will deliver the opening prayer.
Tickets: Tickets are $15 and may be obtained at Family Christian Bookstore, 7415 Market St., Boardman; Lion & Lamb Christian Resources, 145 S. Broadway, Salem; Lion & Lamb Christian Resources, Eastwood Mall, Niles; Jerry Pasko & Assoc, 1714 Boardman Poland Road, Poland; Abundant Life Fellowship, 46469 state Route 46, New Waterford; Shoppers Choice, 100 W. Main St., Washingtonville; and Grace Chapel Church, 4075 Lamor Road, Hermitage, Pa. Tickets bought after April 30 do not include a box lunch as the food order had to made in advance.
Website: www.mensrally.org
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
A group of men from Grace Chapel Community Church are really taking steps to show their commitment to the theme of the Men’s Rally in the Valley, “Let’s Meet at the Cross.”
They’re walking from the church in Hermitage, Pa., to the Covelli Centre downtown to demonstrate their resolve, said Dan Pecchia, Men’s Rally communications team volunteer.
He said they plan to start walking about midnight Friday to get to the rally that starts at 9 a.m. Saturday.
He also said a few men who plan to the attend the rally also are doing a “fly over” on Friday above the center to pray for the participants and event.
Last year’s inaugural rally drew some 3,500 men. For this Saturday’s rally, some 2,000 tickets have been sold so far.
Pecchia said he expects a surge at the end, and tickets also will be sold at the door.
Walter “Bing” Newton of Leetonia, of Men of Faith, a Christian men’s group, is the lead organizer.
He said the success of the first event has set the groundwork for the second rally. The rally is for all men of faith.
Newton said he formulated this year’s theme based on one of the speakers, Joe White of Branson, Mo., whose ministry is Men of the Cross.
“He impacted my life,” Newton said of White and hopes he does the same for those attending the rally.
Newton said the rally will challenge men to form “accountability partnerships” so that they may grow in their faith.
Bishop George Murry of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown will open the rally with prayer.
“I hope the rally motivates men to be involved in their faith and take an active role,” he said.
“Faith is not a free-floating experience,” the bishop said, “but a connection to God.” The bishop said faith also manifests itself in love of family, the larger community and country.