by Robert C. Veil, Jr.
Saturday, September 13th, is our Area-Wide Youth Rally, for which we have been planning
and praying for over a year! Activities begin with registration and singing at 1:00 PM. The theme
has been prayerfully selected: The Faith of Youth. We have scheduled speakers who are especially
qualified to present messages around this theme in a way which will be challenging, refreshing,
and encouraging, especially to our precious young people. David Shannon has served effectively
for 10 years as the President of Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tennessee. These years
have proven him to be especially good with young people, and he is one of the most popular and
energizing speakers at youth rallies and similar occasions across the country. He has an amazing
talent for encouraging and motivating young people. Joining him on the program are Austin
Swinea and Ben Cooper, two young men who can relate to and connect with our young people,
and who will be presenting supportive messages to make the day a spiritual feast. The schedule
includes plenty of time for fellowship, getting to know other young people in the area, eating
together, playing together, and growing in the faith. It’s also an opportunity to share our faith with
young people from our area who are not yet members of the Lord’s church. Remember, youth
rallies are all about building relationships, especially our relationship with Jesus Christ!
This particular youth rally will include several special opportunities, including counseling for
college preparedness, and financial aid, as well as information available from several brotherhood
schools and universities.
The Youth Rally will also serve as a “kick off” to our fall gospel meeting, which begins Sunday
morning, September 14. David Shannon will speak Sunday morning at the 9:45 and 10:45 hours,
to be followed by a fellowship meal for all members and guests. The evening sessions with Austin
Swinea begin Sunday at 6 o’clock, and continue through Thursday. As an added benefit, there will
be day classes Monday through Thursday at 10:00 AM in the auditorium. Austin is no stranger to
us here at Central, having conducted our Fall Gospel Meeting in the Fall of 2021, and participated
in the Spring Break Campaign of March, 2016. We look forward to hosting Austin and his wife,
Riley, and their son, Henry, for this encouraging event on the theme, Create in Me a Clean Heart!
Gospel meetings are always a time of great opportunity, and can be productive of so much
good if they are done right. It is up to each of us to promote the meeting, attend each session, and
support and encourage the speaker in presenting God’s word. It is an opportunity not only to
strengthen our own congregation, but to invite friends and neighbors, and to strengthen our ties
with sister congregations who will be supporting the effort.
These two events present special opportunities for our young people, but are not
limited to the young. I would encourage all parents to be sure to bring your children, but also invite
your friends and neighbors. Consider inviting your co-workers to experience the joy of the Lord’s
church and the power of the gospel. May each of us enthusiastically support both of these events
and take full advantage of the special opportunities the Lord has placed in our hands!
