Don’t mind the noise coming from First Baptist Church in Andalusia tonight. Nearly 1,000 teenagers from all over the area are expected to come together at FBC for one of the Covington Baptist Association’s biggest events of the year.

Garrett Davis, student pastor at Carolina Baptist Church, said tonight’s kickoff event marks the sixth year for the Discipleship Now (D-Now) rally in Covington County. Davis said a turnout of approximately 800 kids is expected, and more are always welcome.

“The Baptist churches coordinate this event, but it’s open to anyone,” Davis said. “Registration ended in January, but if some kids still want to go, they can. They just won’t get a t-shirt.”

In fact, Davis said the goal of the rally is to spread the message of Jesus Christ to all kids of all backgrounds and from all walks of life.

“There’s a team of youth pastors that gets together and plans this thing, and our goal is to make it open and be an event everyone can afford,” Davis said. “So we kind of pool our money together and bring it to Andalusia.”

Davis said the three-night event begins tonight at 6:30 with an opening ceremony of sorts.

“We just try to get the kids excited about the weekend and encourage them to bring friends,” he said. “T.J. Jordan from Southside Baptist in Opp will bring in a band and Jack Armstrong from Westview Baptist in Opp will be with us.”

Following tonight’s kickoff, Davis said the services will continue Friday and Saturday at the Opp High School gymnasium.

Davis said Friday’s services will kick off at 7 p.m. with dinner. Saturday’s events will begin at 10 a.m. and will include lunch, before Saturday evening’s service begins at 7.

For more information about the D-Now program, call 334.222.1922 or 334.488.6022.

or contact staff members at Westview, First Baptist (Opp), Southside (Opp), Southside (Andalusia), Babbie Baptist or Carolina Baptist churches.