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The Butler County Ministerial Association will host its 15th annual Back to School Bash on July 28 at 6:00 p.m. at the Hank Williams Park in Georgiana. Founder, pastor Allen Stephenson and associated churches, invite the community, coaches, students, and athletes from surrounding areas to come out and take part in fellowship, food, music, encouragement and prayer. 

“Some kids don’t know what it’s like to have someone pray for them,” Stephenson said. “But we’re going to change that narrative. We will be praying for them all, as we offer Christ and the gift of salvation.”

Guest speakers for the event will include keynote speaker, former Faulkner University head football coach Tommy Wasden, pastor Reginald Williams of Centerpoint Church, and Jami Sikes of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA.) According to Stephenson, Wasden’s message will focus on making good choices. 

Sikes said she is always willing to help within the community any way she can. She referred to Matthew 9:37, as she added, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. This is an opportunity for us as spiritual leaders to pour into our youth, as they head into a new school year. I want to remind our students and athletes that their value, heart, and identity is so much more than winning a championship. Our young people are fighting a culture that desperately wants to distract them from who God has called them to be. We want to encourage students to have an active and intimate relationship with Christ, and to not allow the world to define their identity. John 3:30 tells us that He must increase and I must decrease. I want children to know that a relationship with God, is greater than any identity the world may offer.” Sikes said she will have a personalized keepsake bracelet for students with that sentiment.

Greenville girls’ head basketball coach SaRhonda Cheatham said being able to come together as a community, to uplift the One who gave each of us our gifts, is something money cannot buy. 

“I pray each student athlete leaves the event with a sense of belonging, and with an understanding that a relationship with Christ is much bigger than any sport we can play,” Cheatham said. 

Stephenson said that after the keynote address, there will be an invitation for acceptance into the body of Christ. 

“We will have counselors praying for our youth, and it is our responsibility to follow up with those that get saved, and keep them encouraged in their Christian walk,” Stephenson said. “We invite everyone to come out and join us, as we kick off the school year, seeking the Lord together.”