By Carmen Rodgers
Elmore/Autauga News
The West Elmore Lions Club is hosting the Mark Lanier & Heart to Heart Charity Event on Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Millbrook Theatre, located at 5702 Main Street. Doors open at 6 p.m. and singing begins at 6:30 p.m.
“It is a gospel singing and performance,” said Janet Krantz, an event organizer and pastor at Robinson Springs Methodist Church of Millbrook. “Really great gospel singers.”
This event would not be possible without the help of a popular civic organization.
“The West Elmore County Lions Club gives back to the community for different events and fundraisers,” Krantz said.
The proceeds from this event will go directly to School Ministry Elmore County.
“This is an initiative that provides Bible teaching to primarily middle school students. It is a volunteer initiative and students sign up for it,” Krantz said.
School Ministry Elmore County is completely funded by the stakeholder churches in the area. This program is available at various middle schools throughout Elmore County.
“We have seen students in Holtville, Eclectic, and Millbrook this year. We have been serving students in the middle schools in those areas.”
This initiative has been well received at each location.
“Each site is hosting about 18-24 students,” Krantz said. “The students have been very impacted by it. For example, at the Millbrook site, the students have gone from being shy and reserved at the start of the session back in September to now where they are excited and volunteer to give answers, and read scripture aloud.”
In addition to offering students the opportunity to learn more about the Bible, School Ministry Elmore County is also uniting local churches.
“It’s exciting to see the churches come together to support the ministries,” Krantz said.
According to Krantz, this program has had an overall positive impact in the communities it serves.
“What we are seeing with these types programs are opportunities that help us to be a part of the transformation in our community,” she said. “When students understand that they are loved and treasured, and they are interacting with volunteers who are giving their time and resources to be with these students it is making a real difference in their lives.”
It started in Holtville and Millbrook this past fall. Eclectic was a test site for Elmore County and they went through a whole school year last year.
“They had right at 24 kids throughout the year,” Krantz said. “Eclectic was 5th and 6th graders.”
The initiative aims to reach students before they enter high school.
“Those are very formative years, the adolescence and teen years, especially before they head to high school where the influences can be so significant. Establishing this biblical foundation is important. To really convey the message that,you matter. Middle school students, you matter and we need you to go into your teenage years knowing that.”
A student’s teenage years can be difficult to navigate. This program aims to help students gain self-confidence that they will carry with them into adulthood.
“Our aim is to transform lives, but we know about the crisis that we have in our schools – high schools and middle schools, and even in elementary school where students are struggling with depression and anxiety. They can lose perspective of how valuable they are. So, then they succumb to other temptations, perhaps, drugs or alcohol and activities that are not healthy for their well-being. We are trying to change that tide.”
Tickets for this event are $10 with a select number of front-row tickets available for $20.
For more information, visit www.westelmorelions.org
“It’s a very inexpensive evening of entertainment and it’s going right back to the community,” Krantz said.
