By By Adam Prestridge
Deliverance Ministries of Jesus Christ rewarded three Atmore students for their commitment to the church Sunday morning during its Youth Day celebration.
Pastor Hattie Bishop said Jasmine Howard, Jessica Leslie and Sania Dacus were each presented with $300 scholarships for their active roles in the church.
According to Bishop, the inaugural scholarships were given through the church’s Sunday school department and were given in honor of her deceased husband, Louis Bishop Jr. She said the money was raised through Sunday school offerings given by the youth each week.
The scholarships were not only based on attendance during Sunday school, but also the students’ performance in their respective Sunday school classes, according to Bishop.
Howard, who left for the University of South Alabama Sunday afternoon, is a 2008 graduate of Escambia County High School. She is apart of the church’s teenage Sunday school class.
Leslie is in the church’s intermediate Sunday school class. She is a sixth grade student at Escambia County Middle School.
Dacus is in the beginners Sunday school class at Deliverance Ministries. She is a first grader at Rachel Patterson Elementary School.
Bishop said the students can use the money on any educational needs they need such as tuition, books or supplies.
First-year Escambia County High School principal Harvey Means was the guest speaker at the church’s Youth Day. Bishop said he spoke to the children about change and said he kept the youth’s attention throughout his speech.
The church’s Sunday school classes also went on a trip to Sam’s Fun City in Pensacola and ate a CiCi’s Pizza as a reward for their efforts in Sunday school and at the church. Bishop said she tries to take the youth on a “fun” day out once a year to reward them.