Youth invited to week of prayer and breakfast

The third-annual Washington Youth Prayer Breakfast, set for Monday through next Friday, is expected to be bigger and better than its predecessors.

For five days next week, participating middle- and high-school students will be treated to breakfast and speakers sharing the word of God and their beliefs.

On Monday, Gospel rapper Capello (Brandon Biggs), originally from Plymouth, will speak. Capello, who said he struggled in the past with his relationship with God, is awaiting the debut of his new album, “The Start of a New Beginning.”

“We have a planning committee that makes a list of Christian role models that would be good public speakers,” said organizer Lydie Jennings. “Our first year of prayer breakfasts, we asked Tim Tebow to come and speak. He had to turn us down because he spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., which was at the same time as ours. … Still can’t quite figure out why he chose D.C. over N.C.”

Tuesday’s speaker will be professional skateboarder Mike Skeinkamp, who travels with Untitled Skateboards and MS Skate Ministry and shares the Gospel to skateboarders everywhere.

Siran Stacy will speak to students Wednesday. A former running back at the University of Alabama, Stacy was drafted by the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. After losing his wife and four children in a traffic collision with a drunk driver, he started his own ministry and has been sharing God’s word ever since.

Youth minister Sarah Rachel Hill, subject of the movie “Soul Surfer,” is flying in from Hawaii to speak to the breakfast bunch Thursday. Country-music star Carrie Underwood portrayed Hill in the movie. Hill has a positive message for students.

The final speakers on Friday are Dude Perfect, otherwise known as the guys making crazy, trick basketball shots. This group’s main goal is to glorify Jesus Christ in everything they do, and one of their philosophies is “Go Big.”

In addition to the prayer breakfasts during the week, several evening events are scheduled. They include the following:

• Capello will perform at the Bobby Andrews Recreation Center (on East Seventh Street) at 5 p.m. Sunday. Free hot dogs will be available for those who attend;
• Skeinkamp will host “Skate with Mike” from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. Monday at the PCM Skate Park.
• Hill will speak at 6 p.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church. Guests interested in purchasing a $5 hoagie dinner should call 252-946-3311.
• Hill will be the featured speaker at 6:15 p.m. Thursday at Cornerstone Family Worship Center.