September 13, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
As part of its community outreach, the Smithville Church of God has adopted DeKalb Middle School and hosts regular after school events for those students and others who want to participate.
Students were treated Wednesday afternoon to food, fun and games, inflatables, and a free concert by Christian Rap artist B-Shoc
Pastor Chris Moore said the idea is for the church to be more involved in the community and especially with youth.
“I believe it’s a vital for our churches in the community to reach out as part of community service to take care of our schools and to provide safe, clean, fun environments for them,” Moore.
The church has sponsored after school youth events for several years but expanded its outreach with the adopt a school concept last fall.
“We have hosted after school youth church events for the last eight years. The official adoption we did at the middle school started in the fall. We started out doing some simple projects like landscaping, painting, and providing teachers supplies. We wanted to be a partner with the school. In fact a majority of the students here today (Wednesday) are from the middle school. We bused in around 70 kids this afternoon straight from school to here as part of our after school program. There are other projects we do. Every sporting event they have either me or my youth pastor goes and prays over their events. We are also heavily involved with their Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Every Wednesday we go and help with their music. We just want to be involved. I wish we could do the same for every school,” said Moore.
Students can even earn school credit in some cases for attending an after school event. “Some of the after school programs offer kids credit for attending if they come here. It goes on their record that they attended an after school program,” Moore continued.
The church hosts the after school events twice a year and all the food and fun are provided at no charge.
“It’s completely free. We feed all the kids. We provide transportation if necessary for some of them. There are a lot of games and fun but more than anything we are providing them a good, solid, clean, safe environment. With all the things out there in the world I think it is important that our churches do that. Parents are longing for good places for their kids to go and hang out. We want to be able to make that happen here at this church. You never know how a small thing like this can really impact them and change their lives forever. We always host a big rally at the end of the night. Tonight (Wednesday) we had Christian Rap artist B-Shoc. His real name is Bryan Edmonds. He has an amazing testimony. He travels all across the world doing this. His raps are very easy and very fun. All ages can get involved from 7 to 70 and its all to glorify the name of Jesus Christ which is what we are trying to do,” said Moore.
Bryan Edmonds (aka B-SHOC), was raised in a Christian home in the small town of Toccoa, GA. He gave his life to Jesus at a very young age. B-SHOC spent most of his childhood with a tennis racquet in his hand. He attended Garner Webb University on a tennis scholarship. At GWU, he was named All American and won a NCCAA College Championship.
His love for music began at the age of 16 when he was introduced to hip hop. It was love at first beat. The beat moved him in a special way, so much that he pursued a music career. After many years in the studio and mastering his talent, the music developed a whole new lifestyle for him, which landed him in the night clubs many nights of the week. As his success grew, and he partook of the lifestyle that came with it, depression set in. Something had to change.
He then understood for certain that nothing in the world would satisfy his heart like Jesus Christ. After leaving the night scene, and a lot prayer, the love for the beat still remained. He began writing and recording music about Jesus and his life using the same style of beat. Knowing this was not popular in churches, and that critics would arise, he was dedicated to do God’s will for his life.
Since then God has opened many doors for B-SHOC, traveling the country, and packing concerts full of energy and excitement for Jesus. Thru his concerts and music, he prays more people come to know Jesus and develop a closer relationship with Him. He gives ALL Glory to God.