By By Matthew Nascone
Young Life took a vacation during the holiday season along with the students who attend the meetings, but Young Life club is back and will start up again Jan. 24 at 6:47 p.m. in the Young Life building located at 501 S. Pensacola Ave.
"It is easier to remember 6:47, so that is why we say that," Atmore area director Chad Green said. "We always give a really weird time so that it is something to remember."
Green is setting his goals high for this year and he will have a little incentive if that goal is met.
"If we can get 100 kids to show up, we will raffle off the opportunity to shave my head," Green said. "I have been growing my hair for eight months now and if 100 kids show up, someone can shave my head. That is our push to get kids here and the kids that really know me want this to happen, but the most we have got so far has been close to 60, so we have a ways to go."
The group will start club off with the Bigger and Better event. Green said the group is open to all students in the ninth through 12th grades. Each student will be in a group and receive a paper clip. They will have one hour to go around town and trade for something bigger and better.
"Last year we did this and I got back two double stoves and a car, so there are some big shoes to fill," Green said. "We will hang out afterwards."
The other big event for Young Life is the annual fundraising banquet, which will take place Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. in the Atmore Area YMCA &Community Center gymnasium. Dinner will be served and Green said he is hoping the community can support the program again and surpass the $14,000 raised at last year's banquet.
"We believe it is going to take all the people of Atmore to support this ministry for every kid in our community," Green said. "We want a relationship with Jesus to be in every kid's heart in this area. Jesus does not care whether you are a pregnant teenager or the star quarterback. He still has a message for you."
A catered dinner will be provided for all in attendance.
For more information about Young Life contact Green at the office at 446-1188, on his cell phone at 251-253-5119 or by email at chad@atmore.younglife.org.
The RSVP deadline for the banquet is Feb. 1. Contact Linda Parsons by phone at 446-1610 or 368-3271 or by email at lgparsons@frontiernet.net.