Henry Daily Herald

McDONOUGH — Local leaders are organizing a community meeting to help inform the area’s church congregations on ways they can participate in K-12 public education.

The briefing, called the Henry County Faith-based Conference, is scheduled for 3 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. Thursday. It will be held at McDonough Christian Church, 2000 Jonesboro Road in McDonough.

The Rev. Edward Lee of Shiloh Baptist Church and the Rev. Tommy Kennedy of GSquared Ministries are spearheading the event, which will include a slate of local leaders as speakers.

Thursday’s speakers will include Henry County Commission Chairman Elizabeth “B.J.” Mathis, Henry County Schools Superintendent Ethan Hildreth, Henry County Communities in Schools Executive Director Pam Carter and Mona Norton of Child Evangelism Fellowship.

The meeting will be the second since June 26, when leaders met with 80 community members at Merle Manders Conference Center in Stockbridge to discuss ways churches can get involved in their community schools.

Kennedy estimates there are some 200 churches in Henry County. He said he invites them all to send representatives to sit in on Thursday’s conference.

The reverend said the event’s goal is to educate churches about what they can do in schools and activate them to serve their neighborhood schools through mentoring, reading and tutoring. It fulfills an element of the E2 — Economics and Education Program, developed by a study committee at the Henry County Chamber of Commerce to increase community and business participation in schools.

Kennedy said ideally school clusters would be able to look to a neighborhood captain or designated church representative to help plan school activities, events or programs. The church leaders, he said, also might help gather resources for their neighborhood schools to help improve student achievement.

The conference is free and open to the public. Those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP by e-mailing tkpastor@gmail.com.