By BECKY CRISSMAN

becky.crissman@gaflnews.com

CORDELE — Area youth had an opportunity to fellowship together at a Christian rally last week at the Crisp County Middle School.

“Our goal is to do something for the good of the youth of the whole community,” said Ray Burnette, pastor of Arabi Baptist Church. The rally was hosted by some of the area’s church leaders. “This has been a great movement for God,” Burnette added.

Attendees enjoyed pizza and sodas and sang their praises, along with the Christian rock group, the Chris Orr Band.

“Bands like these really speak the message in a way that the younger generation can relate to,” Burnette said. “It is wonderful to see these youngsters with their hands raised in worship and their voices singing praises to the Lord.

“In the times we are coming into, it really gives us hope that Christ is working in these young people.”

On hand as staff were many of the area’s pastors, church leaders and youth, wearing white shirts with red crosses, ready to assist wherever a need arose.

Later on, Ed Newton of Memphis, TN took the stage to bring a message to the crowd. “Tonight did not happen by chance,” he said. “It wasn’t just the coordinators and the youth pastors who got us to this point tonight. It was God Almighty up in heaven who loved us so much that he sent his son to die so that we can have eternal life.

“We are all in need of a Savior and that is why we are here tonight. It does not matter who you are, no matter what race, or ethnic background, or where you come from, everybody needs that saving grace.”

Newton told about his rather unusual hobby of collecting warning labels. One of his favorites, he said, is a label on a car sunshade that reads, “do not drive with product in place.”

“The bad part is,” he said, “if there is a warning on something, then somewhere, somebody has actually done what they are talking about and I couldn’t help but think, ‘NO! NOT NEMO!’”

He entertained young people with his comedic anecdotes, but was very serious in telling the young people that the “word of God is the most amazing thing we can pour our life into.”

He told the crowd “we do not need to be secret service agents. We need to stand up and not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ. There is only one way, one ride to heaven and that is Jesus.”