Monthly service has students firmly in mind

BY KIRK STARRATT

The Advertiser

NovaNewsNow.com



It’s a high-energy monthly worship service designed with junior and senior high school students in mind.

Rally in the Valley is held in different locations and although the churches of the Eastern Valley Baptist Association sponsor it, the services are open to all denominations. The rally service for March was held at Kentville Baptist on Sunday evening, March 18.

Rally in the Valley team leader Rev. John Dixon, Pastor of Student Ministries at New Minas Baptist Church, said the services are always held on the third Sunday of the month from 7:30-9 p.m. during September, October and November and from January to May.

Dixon said there are similar events held in most major centres in the Maritimes although they’re not connected.

“It’s basically a worship service designed to be relevant to junior and senior high students,” he said, pointing out that rally events bear a lot of the elements of a traditional worship service. The students worship God as a community in a way that’s meaningful and relevant to them.

For example, the speaking times are shorter, drama plays a big part and there’s a lot of high-energy music with electric instruments that Dixon describes as modern worship music. They have the “Rally in the Valley” band with members from various local churches on hand every month. On average, about 200 people attend the services.

They have a big screen with images from past rally events and other religious imagery at the services. Dixon said some churches, such as Kentville Baptist, for example, have their own screen and sound equipment, but they usually have to bring the technology with them and set it up.

He said youth groups representing other denominations often attend and they’ve held the services in other denominations’ churches. Last month Rally in the Valley was held at Central Kings High School.

The next rally will be at Centreville Baptist Church April 15 and the First Cornwallis Baptist Church in Canard will host one May 20.

For more information, visit www.ritv.ca,">www.ritv.ca,">www.ritv.ca, e-mail info@ritv.ca or call Dixon at (902) 681-7683.