This week a youth rally will be held in Mount Airy, and Ben Webb, an organizer for the event, hopes to draw youth from across the county.

The Surry County Youth Rally will take place this Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Blue Ridge Camp Meeting Building on Caudle Drive. Webb has spear-headed organization of the event. Although Webb is a Baptist minister, he encourages youth from other denominations or no religious background to come.

“It’s for anyone who will come,” said 21-year-old Webb.

Services each night will start at 7 p.m., with prayer starting around 6:40 p.m. The services will open with singing from a combined youth choir featuring young people from various churches. Each night there also will be special singing groups, music led by Greg Irby, a message by a teenage preacher from the area, and a message from Webb.

On Thursday night, bluegrass band Narrow Road will perform. Jake Easter with Amazing Grace Baptist Church will preach. On Friday, Redeemed will perform. Zach Crissman from Imogene Baptist Church will preach. The Hawks Trio and Trinity Baptist Church Youth Choir will perform on the final night, and Tim Webb will preach.

Webb has wanted to have a rally for youth in the county for several years. He said the Lord laid it on his heart. Although he is just 21, Webb has been preaching for many years. He preached his first sermon at the age of 7 and formally accepted calling to preach at age 15.

Around the first of the year he began meeting with local pastors about holding a rally.

“I’ve been amazed at the support for the idea,” he said.

Of the purpose of the rally, Webb said, “That young people would know that there’s a real God and he desires that they know him. It’s not to make people religious.”

Webb said that these days, “Young people are facing distractions. They don’t need God.” And he said youth rallies are not as prominent in the area as they used to be.

The preacher hopes not just youth will come, but families as well. He is expecting a good crowd. Webb said this might spur the creation of a group to organize more events in the future.

“One thing I’m looking to do ... is work toward having things every month, a ministry for young people in Surry County.”

“There’s not a lot to do,” Webb continued. “Why not give them something to do? Give them something that will keep them out of trouble.”

For more information about the rally this week, call 336-755-9502 or visit www.facebook.com/surryyouth.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.