photos by Bill Graham / The Meridian StarJocelyn Harris and Ashanti Thames sing a gospel song at The Firehouse Church in Meridian on Wednesday. The church is one of many organizations offering activities for local children during spring break this week.

Two Meridian churches have provided meaningful experiences for upwards of 600 area youth during their spring break this week.

One church opened its arms to expose children to voices some didn’t know they had, while the other dribbled manners, discipline, teamwork and other life lessons into children who keep returning year after year for more.

Voices of religious songs boomed this week through the sanctuary of the Firehouse Church, located at 3718 8th St.

Children and young adults exercised their alto, soprano and tenor voices to express their faith in a higher power. Some of the teens – many of whom had never sang in a choir – found their voices despite hesitations to sing in public.

“We’ve been able to develop talents they didn’t even know they had,” said Nakesha Pace, the church’s youth director who took vacation from work to help lead the children’s programs this week. “It’s awesome to see these people going so hard for God.”

Partnering with the Boys and Girls Club of East Mississippi has helped extend the voice of the youth outreach effort to close to 400 young people. Firehouse Church has also provided meals to any hungry child this week whether or not he or she participated in the music workshop.

Children from Lauderdale, Clarke and Kemper counties participated in the program.

Setting a positive example

Akaysha Pace of Quitman Upper Elementary School, Zion Cole of Northwest Middle School and CaLea Knox of Clarkdale Middle School – a trio of best friends participating in the weeklong workshop – each said she enjoyed time in the church this week.

The girls have spent time singing together and with others, learning a few life lessons and making new friends in the process.

“We can set a positive example,” said Zion. “We can get crunk for Jesus.”

Hoops for Jesus

Less than a mile away from The Firehouse Church, hundreds of children and young adults learned basketball fundamentals at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church on James Chaney Drive.

The church hosted the 19th annual Hoops for Jesus spring break basketball program, which includes practice Monday through Thursday and a two-day tournament beginning Friday.

Church leaders for the spring break program try to help boys and girls participating with tips on how to best assist in a team sport and live better lives.

“If you don’t work as a team, you don’t get the job done,” said Ja’Marco Smith, a ninth grader at Meridian High School. “They help us with our shots and get around defender and drive to the basket.”

Ronald J. Turner Sr. has a full-time job – executive director of the Meridian Housing Authority – but has prioritized his role for years as tournament commissioner each spring break.

Born with a congenital defect, Turner’s right arm ends at the elbow. He said he grew up acknowledging he was different, but never used it as an excuse to settle for less than his best.

He said he tells participants in the spring break program the same thing.

“We want to let them know they can accomplish anything they want in life,” said Turner, who played basketball in high school. “We ask them to be the best version of yourself.”

Turner compliments and complements others at the church who assist with basketball program. One key person is his youngest son, Julius Turner, 20, who began playing basketball in the program at age six.

Now, he’s a criminal justice major at Rutgers University, where he plays on the football team and was named to the Academic All-Big Ten list.

Julius Turner said he couldn’t imagine a spring break that didn’t involve him and his friend Ty Hall, a Meridian Community College student, at the church basketball program.

“We’re just trying to get everybody in the community together,” he said. “I look forward to doing this every year.”

The elder Turner said he hopes young people participating in program will take important lessons with them when they return to school next week.

“I hope the experience they get through this camp will permeate into other areas of their lives,” he said.

More information 

The Hoops for Jesus Spring Break Basketball Tournament at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church on James Chaney Drive will run Friday and Saturday with four different age divisions. 

Children and young adults who participated in the spring break program at the Firehouse Church will showcase their work in a concert at Prince of Peace Christian Fellowship Church on 3004 8th Street at 7 p.m. Friday.