An annual event that invites youth to hear positive messages and God’s word is set to start this weekend.

The 2016 Youth Prayer Breakfast will kick off Sunday at 7 p.m. with illusionist Harris III at First Baptist Church. The kick-off event is open to people of all ages, according to Lydie Jennings, a member of the event’s planning committee.

The weeklong event, continuing each day through March 11, will primarily feature breakfast provided by various churches, businesses, civic groups and other organizations and a message each morning. Middle school students will be served breakfast at 6:30 a.m. each morning, while high school students will be served at 7:30 a.m. The morning events, held at the Shrine Club in Washington, will be free to all students who attend.

The event’s planning committee is also offering transportation for P.S. Jones Middle School students and any other students who need a ride to attend, Jennings said.

Jennings said the event is meant to give students the chance to get up early, receive a free breakfast and start their day out on a positive note by hearing encouraging messages from celebrity Christian speakers. Among the speakers are Harris III, American Idol season 10 contestant Tim Halperin, Washington Redskins offensive tackle and East Carolina University football star Willie Smith, nationally known author Annie Downs and University of Alabama defensive back and cancer survivor Taylor Morton.

“Our goal is for students who know Christ already to grow deeper in their faith and for those students who don’t have a relationship with Christ to have the opportunity to know how Christ can affect their lives,” Jennings said.

While some may wonder why the event lasts all week, rather than just a one-time event, Jennings said the benefits of the weeklong scheduling became very clear to her after the event’s inception in 2010.

“Students will come on the first day, and they actually go out and invite their friends to come the next day,” Jennings explained. “As the week goes on, more and more students come. The event really enables students to become disciples. They’re able to go tell their friends about what they hear and invite them to come back. That, to me, is just a beautiful part of the week. It gives students an opportunity to talk to their friends about Christ and what they heard.”

Washington High School senior Neill Jennings said the event is a great opportunity to hear the word of God with his peers.

“I enjoy getting together with my friends and hearing a different twist on the Word every day,” Neill Jennings said. “It gives several perspectives from people from different backgrounds. It’s great having friends that all live for Christ. You hear a little bit of the Word, and it starts you out on a great note to start your school day.”

Students at Pungo Christian Academy (PCA) will also get a chance to hear from the speakers, according to Jennings. They will travel east to PCA after the sessions each morning in Washington, a new feature added this year.

The morning breakfast sessions won’t be the only offerings of the week, however. Two evening events, in addition to the Sunday kick-off, will give others the chance to hear some of the speakers, according to Lydie Jennings.

Thursday, from 7-8:30 p.m., at First United Methodist Church, a ladies night out dessert and fellowship session will be held, featuring Downs. The event is free to students under 18 and a fee of $10 will be charged for adults. Also on Thursday night, First Christian Church will host Morton at Temple of Jesus Christ Family Life Center, from 6-7 p.m., for children in the fourth through eighth grades.

Jennings said the community response for coordinating and funding the event has made it all possible.

“The whole event … it’s God at work,” Jennings said. “People see what we are doing and call us and want to help us and want to serve. It’s just amazing. This is something bigger than you and I that makes people want to serve like this.”

For more information and a full lineup of scheduling and locations, visit youthprayerbreakfast.com. For transportation, contact Lydie Jennings at 252-943-8184.