By: Phoebe Donald Robinson/Shelby County Reporter

 

Social media is a new phenomena impacting society – especially the youth of today, not all of it good. The First Baptist Church of Columbiana is holding two social media forums to discuss the effects of social media on culture, especially our young people.

The first forum will be for parents and teachers on Sunday, April 21, 2013, beginning with a covered dish breakfast at 9 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. At 9:30 a.m. the forum will begin with speakers: Shelby County High School’s Vice Principal Barbara Snyder; Calera Policeman James Fuller; and First Baptist Youth Minister Andy Shelton. Topics discussed will be on negative trends concerning social media, Facebook, Twitter, internet with practical help for parents and teachers to help monitor use and how to counteract negative trends existing today. The forum will end with a time of prayer led by Mark Endfinger at 10:20 a.m.

The second event will be for students on Wednesday, April 24, 2013, at 6:30 p.m. led by Miss Shelby County 2013 Jamie Brooks. The event, open to teenagers, will begin with the Praise Band leading worship and with Brooks speaking afterwards. Brooks was valedictorian of her high school and graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Alabama debt free from scholarships won through the Miss America Organization, the largest giver of scholarships to young women in the world. She will speak on making good choices in the world today, choices that a young person can make that can impact their life in either a good or negative way.

The forums are open to the public free to all.