Friday, July 17, 2009

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The wait is over By THEA RUTHERFORD ~ Guardian National Correspondent ~ thea@nasguard.com: An exciting lineup of Christian contemporary artists are scheduled to close out Youth Alive, the dynamic Bahamas Faith Ministries International (BFMI) youth conference, which wraps up tonight with its always anticipated concert. Artists Ricardo Clark, Mr. Lynxx, Christian Massive, Mr. Beeds, Naje Dun and Landlord, among others, are expected to perform at the event that, Pastor Dave Burrows, its co-host, said usually attracts 3,000 to 7,000 young participants throughout its duration. After three days of sessions on topical youth issues and evenings of dramatic and musical productions, the concert begins tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Diplomat Center, home of BFMI, on Carmichael Road. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. "When we first started it was only a concert but it expanded into a conference," said Burrows of Youth Alive. "Initially we didn't have drama and things like that but we kept expanding so it's a complete multimedia event now." The event tends to attract those in the 13 to 25 age-range, Burrows said, and has received great support. "The response has been really tremendous. I haven't seen any event, any Christian event, that attracts the number of people that Youth Alive has attracted over the years," he said. Over the course of the conference which carried the theme "The Assignment: Living Right in a World Gone Wrong," participants heard from a variety of popular local and international speakers. They included Miss Black California, Lakita Garth; Pastor Durre Thomas of Calvary Temple, Freeport; youth pastor Terren Dames; minister and communications specialist DJ Roker; Ricardo Miller, a world renowned children and youth ministry specialist; Clinton Minnis; Minister Corey Rolle and Brooke Eneas, minister and former Miss Florida Panhandle. BFMI founder Dr. Myles Munroe and Burrows and Angie Burrows, who served as hosts for the event, also numbered among the speakers. With crime and other social ills ever problems within society, Burrows said that a positive event like Youth Alive is always a good thing. "In light of all of the crime and drug abuse and sexual abuse that's going on the community, and all the problems that we have with young people, anytime you can find an event that's focused in on the positive side of life, it's a really important event," he said. Youth Alive Concert When: Tonight Where: The Diplomat Center, Carmichael Road Artists: Ricardo Clark, Mr. Lynxx, Christian Massive, Mr. Beeds, Naje Dun and Landlord Cost: $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Friday, July 3, 2009