Planning series of children activities
Uniontown church puts focus on youths Hoping to be a positive influence, Mount Rose Baptist Church in Uniontown is planning a series of activities for local youths.
“We’re gearing up for a great summer,” said Tiffany Blaho, youth director.
The activities begin this Saturday with “Illuminating the Darkness: First Annual Youth Summit,” which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mount Rose, located at 9 Martin Luther King Way (formerly Grant Street).
They will continue with a block party with food and games on July 31, followed by the Just Press Youth Explosion that features a showcase of musical talent on Aug. 14 and a back-to-school clothing giveaway that will take place just before the start of the new school year. In addition, youths will be volunteering at Mount Macrina Manor nursing home this summer.
Blaho, who has a degree in education, conceived the idea for these events a few months ago but the recent news of gang activity in Uniontown makes the program more relevant.
“The Lord laid it upon my heart to help our youths, to give them the tools they need to navigate through the world, especially those trying to walk the Christian walk,” said Blaho.
The Rev. Brian K. McLee Sr., who left the area after graduation from Uniontown Area High School in 1981 and returned in 2003, said, “When I grew up, going to church was the norm. You were expected to be in church where you were building healthy relationships with people.”
McLee, who was a member of the 1981 Red Raiders state championship basketball team, attended Point Park University and spent time in the Air Force before making his home in Milwaukee, where he worked in the school safety department for Milwaukee public schools and was associate minister at Ephesians Baptist Church from 1995 to 2003. McLee began pastoring Mount Rose Baptist Church in 2006. He also works with Lafayette School in the Uniontown Area School District.
He said of the youth summit, “We want to get children to understand you can have healthy relationships and be something positive in your community and not gravitate towards negative aspects.”
Blaho said, “We want them to understand they can do something positive and still have fun.”
The youth summit this Saturday at Mount Rose begins with breakfast and registration and then offers sessions with McLee and Blaho as well as a keynote address by Minister Douglas Wright of City Chapel of Uniontown, followed by sessions with Minister Terrance Jackson and Chantla Stokes, both of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Uniontown.
“We have different churches involved but we are one big Christian family,” said McLee. “We have the same vision to make a positive impact on the lives of young people.”
The event is geared toward youths in grades five through 12 but McLee said no one will be turned away. A luncheon and fellowship will also be provided. He noted that youths can relax and ask questions they can’t on a Sunday morning.
“One of the questions young people ask is how can we make church a place they want to be?” said McLee.
He explained there are things happening in church in which youths can participate, such as junior usher board, children’s choir and youth night, which includes the word of God, fellowship and a hot meal. Church youths have also participated in trips to such places as Dave and Buster’s restaurant and Jerome Bettis’ restaurant in Pittsburgh, as well as Shady Grove Park in Lemont Furnace.
“It lets young people know there is something out there other than what you see outside your door,” he said.
McLee emphasized the importance of education and that the church is offering support to youths who want to further their education.
As an example, he mentioned this past weekend, the church honored Cierra Nicole Truley, a 2010 Laurel Highlands graduate, as she became the first recipient of the Nicole P. Tarpley Graduate Achievement Award.
Truley plans to study a pre-med track at Fairmont State University in West Virginia. She received the scholarship from the Mount Rose Sunday school and gifts from members of the church.
Other summer events include the July 31 block party, which begins at 10 a.m. and will continue until about 5 p.m. Open to the community, it will take place in the parking lots of Mount Rose and nearby Lantz Funeral Home. While the activities are aimed at youths, families are encouraged to attend. There will be games, prizes, food and a disc jockey. The church is looking for donations from the community for the event.
At the block party, Mount Rose will also offer a booth with information on its youth group, which is open to the community and meets from 6 to 8 p.m. every other Thursday. The next meeting is June 24.
McLee came up with the idea for The Just Press Youth Explosion, which begins at 2 p.m. on Aug. 14, and will feature youth music ministries from different churches, including singing, mime, Christian spoken word, Christian rap and Christian hip hop dancing.
Blaho explained the name comes from a biblical verse from Philippians, which states, “I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Youths can spend the summer practicing for the event. Mount Rose is having practice from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
Blaho said the church youths will be volunteering with elderly residents at Mount Macrina Manor, a nursing home located at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown. Officials plan for the youths to work in a garden, read to residents and participate in other activities.
Mount Rose will also have a back-to-school clothing giveaway in August prior to the resumption of the new school year. The church is collecting items for this event.
For more information on donating to the clothing giveaway or on any of these events, call Blaho at 724-208-5529.