by Morgan Mizell

NATCHEZ — Parkview Church of God will host the Alert Conference April 22-24 at the church located on John R. Junkin Drive.

Youth and Children’s Pastor Eric Smith says the event is needed now because the world is in such a dark place.

“We are basing the conference on the scripture of Ephesians 6:18,” Smith said. “It tells us we are to pray on every occasion but to stay alert.”

The student ministry, Anchored, will be in charge of the event. Everyone in the area is invited to attend the free three-day event.

“With all that is going on in the world, it is easy to see we are spiritually asleep,” Smith said. “We feel God is getting ready to rise up watchmen to stand guard spiritually.”

Smith believes God wants to equip us as the watchmen for today and tomorrow.

Other churches are invited to attend and some will participate in the service as well. Smith said Parkview will be sending out invitations to all churches in the area to attend the event.

Sunnyside Church will lead the praise and worship section of the Friday evening portion of the event. Bishop Dewayne Moore, Church of God Youth and Education Director of Mississippi, will be the kick-off speaker. Evangelist Timothy Davis will lead praise and worship, as well as preach, Saturday morning, and Tommy Faulk, Jr. will take over praise and worship that evening while another evangelist, Paul Bradford, preaches. Sunday evening, the Parkview worship team will take over the praise and worship while Smith preaches and wraps up the conference.

Smith said he hopes the conference is well attended and well received.

“I pray for this event as it is a season of praise and worship, preparing our hearts to receive preaching and teaching which will equip us to be the watchmen,” Smith said. “We must stay alert and be persistent in our prayers for all believers everywhere.”

The conference will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 22, continue from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 23 and then begin at 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 24.

For those who would like more information, they can call the church at 601-446-7736.