FERRIDAY — With summer rapidly approaching, the Pentecostals of the Miss-Lou are staying true to Ecclesiastes 3:1, which states there’s a season for every activity under heaven.

And warm weather means it’s time for local fishermen to hit the lakes and catch some fish.

Because of this, the church has decided to put on its first annual bass tournament, which is scheduled for Saturday. Teams will consist of two members, which will fish Lake Concordia or Lake St. John. The team that catches the five heaviest fish will be rewarded with a $1,000 first-place prize.

The Rev. Jeremy Howington, youth minister for POML, said 20 percent of the proceeds would go toward the POML youth group, with the other 80 percent going back into the tournament.

“We do several fundraisers a year,” Howington said. “We use it to take them to Six Flags or something, and they’ll be helping to work it.

“We’ll be selling catfish plates, T-shirts and door prizes at the weigh-in. Bryan’s Marine, which is helping us organize the event, has also donated a boat for us to raffle off.”

Howington said the idea came about after he and several friends heard about other bass tournaments in the area, and proposed that the church sponsor one.

“We got to talking about it one day, and thought it would be something good to do,” Howington said. “It would help us get exposure in the community, and we’re always looking for innovative ideas in reaching the community.”

Bryan’s Marine employee Joey Bryan said the tournament could also serve as a way to interact with people that other outreach efforts won’t usually reach.

“Your average outdoorsman and fisherman is not someone you’ll see if you’re going into Walmart or knocking on doors and handing out tracts,” Bryan said. “They’re usually not the ones who will answer the door, because they’re either out working, hunting or fishing. You’re not going to interact with them on a regular basis.”

Howington agreed, and said it’s also a way for outdoorsmen and church folks to find a common bond.

“I don’t know what they think of when they think of church folks, but it lets them know we’re just normal people too,” Howington said. “Meeting people outside our normal influences is one of the advantages to this, but it’s not the sole reason for it.”

Another reason for the tournament is to get the POML church family active in helping organize the event.

“Anything you do within your church family that gives them something to work for and gives them a sense of camaraderie is a good thing,” Howington said. “Even if we don’t make a lot of money it’ll be a good experience.”

Registration is $120 per team. Registration forms can be picked up at Bryan’s Marine. The weigh-in will take place between 3:30 and 4:45 p.m. Saturday in the POML parking lot. For more information, Howington can be reached at (318) 719-9156, or (318) 757-4730.