Nearly 5,000 gather for prayer, inspiration at today's Rally in the Valley

YOUNGSTOWN

For Julie Johnson and her son, Hayden Johnson, seeing Phil Robertson, the star of the popular A&E reality show “Duck Dynasty,” was uplifting, though perhaps not in the usual ways.

“I’m so lucky to have all my friends and family,” the 13-year-old Salem boy said. “I just want to say, ‘Thank-you.’”

When he was 15 months old, Hayden was diagnosed with a brain tumor, something he fought for about eight years. These days, he’s doing well, he said.

Mother and son expressed gratitude to Robertson and his family for having prayed for Hayden during today’s Men’s Rally in the Valley 2014 event at the Covelli Centre.

Robertson was the main draw for the seven-hour gathering, in its fifth year, which combines religious messages, music and workshops. Its theme was “No Compromise … No Retreat … Standing on the Truth,” taken from the biblical Book of Daniel.

Between 4,500 and 5,000 people attended the indoor event, which was fashioned after the “Promise Keepers” gatherings and featured six main speakers. It also sought to bring together men for fellowship, prayer and worship while allowing them to more fully realize and appreciate their importance in the church, family and community, noted Walter “Bing” Newton, event organizer.

More than 20 men were baptized during the event, said Newton, a former Salem High School teacher and track coach.

In his presentation, “No Compromise, No Retreat,” Robertson denounced what he sees as the hypocrisy between many courthouses across the nation removing the Ten Commandments yet having to deal with those who break them. Nearly all defendants who appear in court are there because they stole, committed murder and other violations of the commandments, he said.

“What in the world has happened to the United States of America? It is pitiful!” shouted Robertson, the family patriarch who founded Duck Commander Co.

Read the complete story in Sunday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.