ORANGE — A yearly event featuring dozens of churches and hundreds of people will be coming to Orange in June.

Mount Olive Baptist Church, located at 106 W. Park Ave. in Orange, will be the host facility for the Congress of Christian Education which is part of the 141st Annual Session of the Trinity Valley Baptist District Association. The conference will be held from Monday, June 8 through Friday, June 12.
More than 30 churches from across Southeast Texas and East Texas will take part in this year’s congress, which the purpose of is to religiously educate the Christian faith-based community. This year’s theme is “Solidarity with the Savior through His Witness.”
“This event brings people together for fellowship and Christian education through daily classes for children, as well as adult classes,” said Ola Broussard of host group. “It’s not only good Christian education training from the Bible, but it is also training in how we are supposed to go out and evangelize to the community and those around us.”
Activities begin at 8:30 a.m. each weekday for children and adults. There are also sermons at noon each day and services at 7 p.m., nightly.
Broussard said the opening night event will consist of a musical program prepared by Mount Olive Baptist Church and the Tuesday night program will include an official welcome by various community leaders and elected officials, including Mayor Jimmy Sims of Orange.
“Our evening worship will have a guest speaker each night who will give a sermon based on the theme,” Broussard explained. “Then there will be a short message from a guest minister.”
Broussard said the event is open to the community and to all ages, especially youth. Tuesday will be the official “Youth Day” of the conference with more than 300 children expected to attend.
“Children will be here all week, but that is the one day when all of the churches will be bringing their youth,” she added. “There will be a lot of activities and educational events for them every day.”
Broussard said “a lot of work” has gone into making sure this year’s event is the best it can be for all involved. Organizers include Rev. Robert Campbell, who is the moderator for this year’s event, and Rev. Ronnie A.E. Crockett Sr. is the congress leader and host pastor. Sis. Linda Lee is the dean, and Sis. Eleanor Mitchell is youth directress.
“A lot of people will be coming to town for this event, and many of them will be staying overnight,” Broussard said. “A lot of church groups will be here, but it is open to the community as well. Everyone is welcome to attend and learn. It’s about bringing people together and having fellowship.”
Call 409-886-0033 for more information.