Annual Purity Ball held in Wagener

On Friday, Feb. 5, Churches Together for Kids Ministries and the Wagener Pregnancy Care Center hosted the annual Father-Daughter Purity Ball in the Wagener Community. The night was filled with enchantment, excitement and elegance.

The Father-Daughter Purity Ball was held at Bethcar Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Wagener. The fellowship hall was transformed into a beautiful, elegant oasis that was decorated with lots of lights, candelabras and balloons. The fathers and father-type figures and their daughters enjoyed a social hour that included having pictures made, fellowship and hors d'oeuvres. The ball started with welcome and prayer. The meal was served by adult volunteers from the community, who were waiters for the evening, and ensured the fathers and daughters were very well taken care of.

The Rev. Bernie Heyward was the guest speaker for the ball. Bernie, a father of six, encouraged fathers, grandfathers and father-type figures to spend time with their daughters and listen to them and stressed the importance of being a part of their lives to work on their relationships, to be the role model and to show young ladies how they should be treated.

Heyward also encouraged daughters to communicate with their dads, tell their dads they love them and spend time with them. He shared that the ultimate father-child relationship is exampled through God and His love for us.

Next, journals were presented to all the daughters, and they were encouraged to build on their relationship with God, to journal their thoughts and their prayers and to communicate through journaling. Fathers and father-type figures made the first journal entry to their daughters.

Then a White Rose Ceremony was held; each father and father-type figure was presented with a white rose, representing purity and innocence. The men were charged with supporting, praying and encouraging their daughters. After the charge, each daughter joined the gentlemen and were presented the white roses. Fathers and father-type figures presented their white roses to the daughters and encouraged them.

"More Beautiful You" by Jonny Diaz was the first song played for each couple. The song encourages daughters; there is no one more beautiful than them. Special music guest was Chris Hartley. He not only provided music but also encouraged the fathers and daughters with singing.

The night was a beautiful expression of a father's and daughter's love and the importance of daddies spending quality time with their daughters engulfed with the love of God and the importance of living pure.

Pic 1 Wesley Byars and daughter and Marisa

Pic 2 Oscar Rushton and Candace Coleman

Pic 3 Tony Fulmer and daughter Lindsey

Pic 4 Rose Ceremony

Pic 5 Journals that were given

1st Pic Bernie Heyward and daughters Mariah (left) Bethany (right)

2nd Pic Rev. Chris Addy and daughter Ashley

3rd Pic Rick Calvert and daughter Cheyenne

4th Pic Wilson Blizzard and dauther Maquel