Eighteen-year-old Andrew Sheely has lived in Meridian for most of his life.
But after graduating Meridian High School recently, he made a trip to Nashville, Tenn., for spiritual reasons.
"I went to Nashville seeking leadership training in the hopes that I will be involved with a Christian-based camp in the future," Sheely said.
Sheely said he eventually wants to be involved with a missions camp for teens, and the training in Nashville was crucial to that position.
"I got a first hand look at what it would be like be a staff member at one of these camps," Sheely explained.
During the two-week training, Sheely had to perform certain tasks in preparation for the staff position. Among those was being involved in a prison ministry, a task that Sheely was originally uncertain about.
"Once I began interacting with them on a personal basis, things changed, and I really enjoyed the experience when it was all said and done," he said.
During his time at the training camp, Sheely, who is also musician on the side, was even able to perform his first benefit concert — something that was unexpected for him.
"The worship leader and the missions mobilizer came up with the idea and decided to let me and other girl perform for the benefit,” he said. “It was an awesome experience being in Nashville and being able to perform in front of others."
The proceeds went to a group in Romania — an oppressed country in Eastern Europe. The two raised around $80 for the cause.
Andrew's musical roots began in church as he played in his youth group's praise band.
"Basically all our seniors who played in the band originally graduated, so I had to learn to play guitar,” he said. “I've loved it ever sense."
Sheely will begin college in the fall where he will attend Mississippi College in Clinton. There, he hopes to learn what he'll do professionally. In the meantime, Sheely says he will be getting his basics out of the way.
Local News
Star of the Week: Andrew Sheely
- Local News
-
-
Local law enforcement officials honored
State Rep. Greg Snowden said he remembered as a child looking up to those "men in blue."
He said police officers in uniform were larger than life, riding in their patrol cars and carrying guns to protect and serve the population. Today, he said he is still in great admiration of the men and women who put their lives on the line every day so that citizens can feel safe. -
MPD probes vehicle crash
Evidence of a mother's desperate attempt to save her children from harm were spread all over a car lot — and could be seen on her as well in the form of bruises, cuts and scrapes.
Tuesday night, a vehicle with three children inside crashed through a plate glass showroom floor window damaging four new cars and totaling the vehicle the children were in. -
Skeleton found in residence
Members of the forensics team of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) were called to a dilapidated home in Chunky to probe the discovery of a skeleton.
-
Police search for robbery suspects
Two men who reportedly robbed a woman at gunpoint in the parking lot of a local bank are still being sought.
Mike Vick, public information officer with the Meridian Police Department, said the two men approached a woman about 8 p.m. Tuesday at the ATM of Regions Bank on North Hills Street. Vick said one of the suspects was armed with a handgun and after taking an undetermined amount of cash and the victim's car keys, the two suspects fled on foot. -
City cuts payment to Watkins
The Meridian City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to cut their monthly payment to David Watkins, project developer of Meridian's new police station, by $9,999 until work resumes on the project.
The order, made during the Meridian City Council meeting Tuesday morning, included a mutual agreement between the councilmen and Watkins to reduce the project developer's monthly consultant fee of $10,000 to $1, effective Tuesday. -
Crews work on gasoline pipeline
If you hear a loud, booming sound early today, between 4 a.m.-10 a.m., there is no cause for alarm.
Workers with Plantation Pipeline will be performing maintenance work on their 30-foot gasoline pipeline in the Meridian area to accommodate the widening of Highway 493. The location of the work activity will be at Highway 493 North and Oak Hill Baptist Church, just inside the city limits. -
Team Spirit
-
High Honor
The flowers and balloons Crestwood Elementary School Principal Kimberly Kendrick received at school Monday were not an early Valentines' Day gift.
Kendrick has been named Meridian Public School District's 2012 Administrator of the Year – an announcement that both surprised and wowed the 17-year veteran educator when made by MPSD Superintendent Dr. Alvin Taylor. -
Master Dance Class
-
Digital system promises better communication
Hopefully in the near future you won't hear someone in the emergency services ask over the radio, "Can you hear me now?"
A digital communications system, one which is being pushed by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), is a few months away and, in some cases, is already in the testing phase in Lauderdale County. - More Local News Headlines
-





