By Scottie Brown

The Selma Times-Journal

 

After seeing the need for guidance for the young people in the community, Rev. Otis Dion Culliver with Tabernacle Baptist Church decided it was time to provide a support system for them.

“I really wanted to take the time to pour into the lives of our young people to encourage them, to engage them to engage the world in a positive way that ultimately is for the good of our community and the glory of God,” Culliver said.

The church will host a Training Adolescent Behavior event Thursday, July 31 and Friday, Aug. 1 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. nightly.

Four different educational sessions will be available at no cost for students ages 11 to 18 with focuses on personal hygiene, peer pressure, Christian dating and cyber-communication. Krystal Dozier, one of the coordinators with the T.A.B event, said it was a way for the church to try to positively influence the young people of the community.

“What we are trying to do is impact the life skills of our young people, and in doing so hopefully this will transform into productive citizens within our community,” Dozier said.

Students will not just be lectured to during the four sessions they will attend.

Dozier said the presentations will be interactive and students may ask the presenters questions. For students who are shier, Dozier said there will be a way for them to have their questions answered.

“There will be a time where they can actually write the question on the card,” Dozier said. “That question will be addressed later in an open session for lack of embarrassment for some students who don’t feel confident enough to ask that question in front of their peers.”

Following the two learning sessions, the church will serve dinner and then have a closing ceremony with a motivational message from Culliver that parents are requested to attend the session, Dozier said.

“We want the parents in the community to know the information that the children are receiving and how we would like to be a part of their lives to impact the students and their life skills,” Dozier said.

The church plans for the event to be an ongoing occurrence as the church becomes aware of more topics the community would like to see taught, Culliver said.

“I’m very convinced that our city is going to prosper we have to invest in our young people because they are our future. If we don’t equip with the right life skills as well as the spiritual character they will fail to be productive citizens. If they fail to be productive citizens, they become counter-productive.”