1st Church of the Nazarene holding Athlete Appreciation Service

ZANESVILLE, Ohio — One local church is stepping up their efforts to play a more active role in the community.

The Zanesville First Church of the Nazarene will be hosting a Local Athlete Appreciation Service this weekend. The service is designed to show appreciation for local athletes of all ages as individuals, but also for what they do in the community.

“Our church has really started focusing more on, you know, what we can do for the community, getting more involved with the community, and just really trying to show them love. And specifically with this event the children, and high school, and middle school-aged kids who spend a lot of time and energy practicing and dedicated to their sports just to be able to have a service where we can honor them,” said Micah Dupler, a member, as well as Chair of the Unity Committee.

Dupler says that he played sports growing up so this service is near to his heart, and it’s just one of the many areas within the community that the church wants to grow and be a part of.

The service will include guest speaker Tony Stockman, a former Ohio State basketball player and “Mr. Ohio” award winner in 2000.

“I graduated from Ohio Christian University and he’s the men’s basketball coach down there. Just a great guy. He’s willing to come up and share his testimony with us, and speak out to the athletes about some of the things that he dealt with growing up, and how he became a Christian and how he uses his platform as an athlete to reach others for Christ,” explained Dupler.

In addition to the guest speaker, there will be a guest band– “Sunshine”– that will perform at the service. Sunshine is a group made up of four teachers in the Jackson, OH area that have been members of the church for over 20 years.

The event will be held at the church this Sunday, May 28th and will begin with their worship service at 10:30. Sunday school precedes the service at 9 a.m. They ask any athletes that attend to wear a jersey or t-shirt of the team and organization that they play for so that they can be recognized during the service.

All athletes that attend will receive a white rubber band bracelet with the words “He is why” on one side, and “Colossians 3:17” on the other.

For more information on the event, or directions to the church, you can call (740)453-4500 and speak with Pastor Steve or Pastor Mark.