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By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

Local youth leaders are joining forces to host the United youth rally for students entering seventh through 12th grade on Aug. 3.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for this free event at 6th Street Warehouse in downtown Clanton.

“We are wanting to unite as one,” Ian Velasquez, youth pastor at Clanton First United Methodist Church and one of the organizers, said. “Unite youth groups. Unite youth in general. Even if they are not in a youth group we would love to have them come.”

The event will feature popular social media comedian Shama Mrema (@shama4realz) and local musician Matt Littlejohn.

Velasquez said Mrema has also been a youth pastor and understands the audience.

Planning for the event started when Velasquez mentioned doing something special for students to end the summer to a group of local youth pastors that meets on a weekly basis for breakfast. Everyone liked the idea of hosting a joint event.

“This has been a conversation for a while, ‘we want to do something together,’” Velasquez said. “Let’s all come together.”

Velasquez said he would like to see youth from every church in Chilton County, and those who do not normally attend a youth group or church, at the event.

“We just want to be able to present the gospel,” Velasquez said.