Saturday, March 21, 1998

Youth invited to attend the Prom-ise

By LORETTA FULTON / Abilene Reporter-News

Four years ago Chris Jenkins was hanging out in bars seven days a week, pretty much wasting his life to hear him tell it.

Area youngsters in grades 8-12 are invited to hear Jenkins tell it -- and another story of how he changed his life -- during an evening of food, music, drama, and testimonies sponsored by five Abilene churches.

Called the Prom-ise, the event will begin at 7 p.m. March 28 in the Mabee Room of the United Methodist Campus Center at McMurry University. A buffet dinner will be served at 7, followed by music from the University Baptist Church praise and worship team and KGNZ Christian radio station DJs.

A Prom-ise Prince and Princess will be crowned, photos will be available, and door prizes will be given away.

Then, from 9:30-11 p.m. Jenkins and his Master's Commission Team from Hampton, Va., will take the stage for testimonies, music, Ôhuman videos" which are drama put to music, and eye-catching stunts.

The group will grab the youngsters' attention with stunts much like the Power Team that appears Saturday nights on Trinity Broadcasting Network. They will use their fists to break pieces of concrete garden trim stacked over a foot high.

The "breaking through" is used to illustrate the point that "sometimes they have to fight through different walls with themselves to find God," Jenkins explained.

Jenkins, 26, described his presentation has a "go for your dreams motivational program" that came out of his own life experience before he discovered the message of the gospel. That message can empower youths to stay away from drugs, alcohol and gangs -- things that can stop people's lives before they get started.

"The Lord really leads us through those things -- it's amazing what happens," Jenkins said.

After seeing a presentation by a Master's Commission group a few years ago, Jenkins was so impressed he joined the team. There are several groups across the country that take their presentation to youth gatherings from elementary to college age.

"We use every arena that's possible," he said.

The group coming to Abilene will include 15 people. Before the program at McMurry, they will take their Radical Youth Invasion to several locales, including Word of Emmanuel Church, 3001 N. 3rd, at 7 p.m. Thursday and Sweetwater Middle School at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

Friday night at 7, the group will be at First Christian Charismatic Church, 2510 S. 14th.

Then on Saturday the grand finale will be held at McMurry. Tickets are $10 and are on sale now at the Love Shop, Word of Emmanuel Church, University Baptist Church and Abilene Christian Schools.

For more information call 692-1264 or 677-2470.