By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
May 25, 2003
The Rev. Bill Harper hopes a "Father and Family Fun Day" scheduled for June 1 at Bonita Lakes will be a catalyst for improved relations between fathers and their children.
Harper, 50, is pastor of Savannah Grove Missionary Baptist Church and director of the Responsible Fatherhood Initiative a program sponsored by the Multi-County Community Service Agency.
The fun day was organized by initiative volunteers. Their goal is to train, educate, encourage and assist fathers to help them become more involved in the lives of their children.
The initiative offers workshops and seminars and refers clients to various programs in Lauderdale, Newton, Leake, Greene, Jasper, Kemper, Wayne, Scott and Smith counties.
Harper, a recent guest of The Meridian Star's editorial board, talked about how the initiative works to break the cycle in some families where the father is absent, either physically or emotionally.
The Lauderdale County Father and Family Fun Day will be held June 1, from 3 p.m.-7 p.m., at Bonita Lakes in Meridian. The event will feature free food, soft drinks, games and entertainment.
For more information, call Harper at 482-9863 or 483-4838.