Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Elisabeth Altamirano-Smith/ Community Columnist

Most church and ministry leaders will agree that while most children and youth ministries are thriving, their college-aged ministries are not as strong. Chilton Baptist Association is planning to host a two-day event in July specifically for college age/young adults. The two-day, free event, entitled “Bold” will be July 16-17 at Mineral Springs Baptist Church. The event is free, but students are encouraged to register online now for adequate seating. Area Baptist churches are networking together to host the event. Thorsby First Baptist Praise Team will lead worship music. Kenny Martin from West End Baptist Church will be the guest speaker. Other area Baptist leaders are also helping to plan details of the event such as Pastor Travis Burnett with Pleasant Grove Baptist 1 and Pastor Jason Green at Mineral Springs.

“This event is one of the things that is needed to reach, equip and encourage our young people, ages 18-25,” said Thorsby First Baptist Pastor Mark Hodges. “The heart behind hosting this event is to help strengthen our young adults to stand against a culture shifting away from Christian values while they are away from home.”

During the two-day event, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served (at no cost) during conference hours. There will be conference breakout sessions for various topics related to living out your faith followed by a community mission project.

“We want to reach out and do something to give back to the community,” said Pastor Travis Burnett of Pleasant Grove. “We are working with Jemison schools and Verbena to paint or clean up areas that they need help with.”

The idea for hosting the young adult Christian conference came from the scripture, Proverbs 28:1 “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.”

“It is a difficult time when you come out of church youth group and friends leave for college or move away,” said Burnett. “We want our youth to take the stand and ‘be bold as a lion’ about living a Christian lifestyle.”

Registration can be completed at www.eventbrite.com. Type “Bold 2021” in the search engine to find the event.

“This is for all young adults age 18-25 and all denominations,” said Burnett. “This isn’t just for Baptists —this is about empowering and encouraging all young people.”

Mineral Baptist Church is located at 8316 County Road 51 in Clanton. The Bold Conference will begin Friday, July 16 at 6 p.m. For more information contact, Travis Burnett at 205-299-1057 or Tyler Eiland with Chilton Baptist Association at 205-755-3188.