Former pro athletes among featured guests at upcoming Sugar Tree Ridge event
Lead Summary
By
Caitlin Forsha-crforsha@gmail.com
The Sugar Tree Ridge Church of Christ is planning a four-day community outreach program targeted at youth and local sports fans, with the entire community welcome to attend and learn more about the church and their mission.
The event will be held Nov. 7 through Nov. 9 at the church from 6:30-9 p.m. nightly, and a "grand finale" event will be held Sunday, Nov. 10 at Whiteoak High School from 2-5 p.m.
Rob Rhodes has recently accepted the position of minister at the Sugar Tree Ridge Church of Christ, after years of service as an Army ranger and state trooper and retiring from the Federal Air Marshal service. Rhodes is married, and he and his wife, Heidi, have two children. He said that he fell in love with the church, the small town and their people after visiting and moved to the area to serve as their minister.
Rhodes is also the cofounder of Launch, a Northern Kentucky-based nonprofit that pays for children who cannot afford school lunches but do not qualify for free or reduced-price lunch programs. Rhodes said that he and his cofounder, Brad Zapp, have funded over $5,000 worth of school lunches in the past year.
Rhodes said that during his career, he has had the opportunity to meet and befriend many professional athletes, and he invited a number of his friends to participate in the event.
Among those invited are Bill Alexson, who played professional basketball in Greece before starting the NBA Chapel program and serving as a chaplain to the Boston Celtics. Alexson's organization, SportsPower International, implemented these chaplain programs throughout the National Basketball Association. Rhodes serves as a representative for the organization, which organizes programs for professional basketball players to reach out to youth and encourage them. Alexson will speak at the church on Friday evening.
Also participating in the event will be Ray Sydnor, a former tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles. Sydnor works with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a ministry program serving coaches, student-athletes and the community, according to the organization's website. He will speak at the church on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Rhodes said that Sydnor would speak about Jesus Christ as well as telling stories about his time in the NFL.
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"Ray is a phenomenal speaker," Rhodes said. "To miss him speaking would be a mistake."
Sam and Brittany Gill, from New Hope Christian Ministries of Pakistan, will also speak on Friday night.
"They'll be talking about events in Pakistan, how they've been persecuted and how Jesus is making a difference in that country," Rhodes said.
The event at WHS will include a performance by four-time Guiness record holder and basketball exhibitionist Bruce Crevier, his wife, and their 12 children. The Crevier family competed on "America's Got Talent," where they finished in sixth place. Admission on Sunday is $5 plus a canned food item, with children ages 6 and under admitted free. Proceeds and food will be donated to a local food bank, according to Rhodes.
There will be special music nightly, along with other speakers, including Rhodes himself.
Rhodes said he hopes the community attends this four-day program to get acquainted with him and the church's ministry program, along with being inspired by the stories of the guest speakers.
Sugar Tree Ridge Church of Christ is located at 2240 state Route 136, Hillsboro.
For more information on the church and its programs, visit www.sugartreeridge.org or like the church on Facebook.
The event will be held Nov. 7 through Nov. 9 at the church from 6:30-9 p.m. nightly, and a "grand finale" event will be held Sunday, Nov. 10 at Whiteoak High School from 2-5 p.m.
Rob Rhodes has recently accepted the position of minister at the Sugar Tree Ridge Church of Christ, after years of service as an Army ranger and state trooper and retiring from the Federal Air Marshal service. Rhodes is married, and he and his wife, Heidi, have two children. He said that he fell in love with the church, the small town and their people after visiting and moved to the area to serve as their minister.
Rhodes is also the cofounder of Launch, a Northern Kentucky-based nonprofit that pays for children who cannot afford school lunches but do not qualify for free or reduced-price lunch programs. Rhodes said that he and his cofounder, Brad Zapp, have funded over $5,000 worth of school lunches in the past year.
Rhodes said that during his career, he has had the opportunity to meet and befriend many professional athletes, and he invited a number of his friends to participate in the event.
Among those invited are Bill Alexson, who played professional basketball in Greece before starting the NBA Chapel program and serving as a chaplain to the Boston Celtics. Alexson's organization, SportsPower International, implemented these chaplain programs throughout the National Basketball Association. Rhodes serves as a representative for the organization, which organizes programs for professional basketball players to reach out to youth and encourage them. Alexson will speak at the church on Friday evening.
Also participating in the event will be Ray Sydnor, a former tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles. Sydnor works with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a ministry program serving coaches, student-athletes and the community, according to the organization's website. He will speak at the church on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Rhodes said that Sydnor would speak about Jesus Christ as well as telling stories about his time in the NFL.
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"Ray is a phenomenal speaker," Rhodes said. "To miss him speaking would be a mistake."
Sam and Brittany Gill, from New Hope Christian Ministries of Pakistan, will also speak on Friday night.
"They'll be talking about events in Pakistan, how they've been persecuted and how Jesus is making a difference in that country," Rhodes said.
The event at WHS will include a performance by four-time Guiness record holder and basketball exhibitionist Bruce Crevier, his wife, and their 12 children. The Crevier family competed on "America's Got Talent," where they finished in sixth place. Admission on Sunday is $5 plus a canned food item, with children ages 6 and under admitted free. Proceeds and food will be donated to a local food bank, according to Rhodes.
There will be special music nightly, along with other speakers, including Rhodes himself.
Rhodes said he hopes the community attends this four-day program to get acquainted with him and the church's ministry program, along with being inspired by the stories of the guest speakers.
Sugar Tree Ridge Church of Christ is located at 2240 state Route 136, Hillsboro.
For more information on the church and its programs, visit www.sugartreeridge.org or like the church on Facebook.