Hundreds participate in youth blessing

This year’s Blessing of the Youth was held aboard the Buccaneer Pirate Ship at HarborWalk Village on May 6.

More than 600 Week of Blessings T-shirts were given out to students through youth groups at several churches and Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the schools. Students wore them to school that day to show they are walking with God everyday.

That night, over 150 youth gathered on the Buccaneer Pirate Ship for free pizzas and drinks, games and music. Ben Joyce from the Christian rap group Holinite performed and The Surrendered, the Shalimar UMC youth band, led the worship.

Finally, the youth pastors gathered to pray a blessing over the youth of the city.

Pastors who prayed were Caroline Hare, director of student ministries at Destin United Methodist Church; Dominick Farone, youth minister at Immanuel Anglican Church; Ana and Joe Buccerio, youth ministers and head of MTC at Vision Church at Christian International; and Preston Pratt of Destin Church of Christ.

First Baptist of Destin, Coastline Calvary Chapel Destin and Impact Life Church were also represented by pastors and youth leaders.