Teens with Purpose to perform play Saturday at First Baptist

The Teens with Purpose group will be performing a play Saturday evening at the First Baptist Church on North Rosser Street in Forrest City.

The play, “Is Anybody Listening?” was written by James Millbrooks, director of Teens with Purpose, and the performers were cast by members of the youth organization.

The doors will open at 5 p.m., for seating, with the play beginning at 6 p.m.

Millbrooks, who said he wrote the play in about three weeks, said it is about two nurses, two senior citizens, a homeless child and a police officer. He said it will focus on proactive approaches teens can take to deal with issues in their lives.

"A lot of times adults do not pay attention to that until something bad, like suicide, happens or they act out," said Millbrooks. "So the message of the play is to pay attention to those signs. It is a Christian comedy, but it is very powerful."

Millbrooks said the group has been practicing the play for the past four months to be prepared for Saturday’s presentation.

Millbrooks says he is thankful for programs in the area such as the Baptist Church and the SUCCESS program for supporting the teens in his group and their passion for creative arts.

Prior to the play, a pop-up event, sponsored by the St. Francis County SUCCESS program, will be held at the church from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.

"We have a variety of vendors," said Sadie Blackwell, intake officer for the SUCCESS program and pop-up shop coordinator. She said that so far, 12 vendors have committed to attending and all are from the Forrest City area.

Millbrooks said he is thankful that programs in the area, such as First Baptist Church and the

(Continued from Page 1) SUCCESS program, supports the teens in his group and their passion for creative arts.

"I am grateful for the SUCCESS center and the people in my life now who håelp push us to our next levels," said Millbrooks. "In fact, some of the teens in my Teens With Purpose program are now youth workers and members of the SUCCESS program, so it has been such a blessing."

Brodie Johnson • Times-Herald Ryan Halbert, assistant high school principal in the PalestineWheatley School District, discusses a new student drug-testing policy with board members Thursday night. The board voted to approve the policy during the special meeting.