NATCHEZ — Get your children to Parkway Baptist Church — ASAP!

No, not exactly as soon as possible, but rather for the church’s new After School Activity Program for children in first through sixth grades.

Parkway Baptist Church, 117 Seargent S. Prentiss Drive, Natchez, is kicking off ASAP from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m. Monday with a visit and performance by Christian Ventriloquist John Yates of Dothan-Alabama-based, John Yates Ministries.

Church organizers say they hope ASAP will become a regular event and will be held the same time every Monday for the next four weeks.

“One of the big things we want to do is give kids safe activities to do after school hours,” said Raj Behara, associate pastor at Parkway Baptist. “Show them what clean fun is with Christian-based activities for our kids after school.”

Behara said everyone is welcome to attend.

“There is no charge,” Behara said. “It is open, and we have a snack for them.”

Following programs, Behara said, will include crafts, a Christian magician is scheduled to perform “Magic on the Fourth,” for the Feb. 4 meeting and a Christian illustrator is scheduled to perform at a later event.

Church member and coordinator Lynnda Forman said the program is not only aimed at giving children something positive to do after school but also is scheduled at an appropriate time for working parents to pick their children up after work.

“After the first month, we will focus on crafts,” Forman said. “We will try to do it at least once a month.”

Behara said other programs would include Christian-based skits and dramas.

“We just want to reach out into our community and get to know the children of the community,” Behara said. “We want to get to know their needs and minister to those needs to be able to connect with children. “Through the years, we will come up with different programs tailored to meet their needs, physical, emotional and spiritual and how they can connect with God.”

For more information, contact Parkway Baptist Church at 601-597-3074.