Oct 10, 2018 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Jared Edgreen remembers the Billy Wayne concerts from his adolescence when he lived in Waynesburg.

“(Wayne) used to come up in the area a lot, actually, when I was a kid growing up here and he did concerts, his testimony, how he grew up and the atmosphere he grew up in,” Edgreen said.

The Waynesburg Central and Waynesburg University graduate spent nine years with the Secret Service before recently coming home to Pennsylvania.

When he returned, Edgreen knew Wayne’s message was something the community desperately needed. Wayne’s history of an abusive childhood and broken home means his talks about bullying, drugs, violence and other similar topics have an impact. All are welcome at an upcoming free youth concert Saturday night.

“I think a lot of kids in this area would relate to how he grew up,” Edgreen said. “He has a way of reaching youth and connecting with them on their level.”

Wayne is a Tennesee-based singer, songwriter, producer and director. For over 25 years, he’s traveled the country sharing his inspirational gospel message. He preached acceptance and love before it was cool, Edgreen said.

“One of the greatest things about Billy Wayne, even back when I did it, was his acceptance and love of everybody. He was the judgment-free-zone before it was cool,” Edgreen said. “You really find he connects with kids.”

The aim of the concert is to get area teens together. Hosted by the Coalition for a Brighter Greene, Edgreen said there has not been a meeting of local church youth groups in quite some time like was common in his childhood. He wants to revive those collective meetings filled with so much hope. He hopes to make this concert into an annual event.

“Someone talked about getting youth together and it kind of clicked. I remembered Billy Wayne, and I was like, ‘I’m telling you, this is the guy that we need to bring our youth together,'” Edgreen said. “It’s really going to reach some kids, much needed in this community.”

Edgreen said the churches also need to play a part in combating the area’s opioid epidemic.

“What are the churches doing about this? The church needs to step up,” he said.

The churches shouldn’t stay within the confines of their brick and mortar locations, but rather reach out to the community, he said, adding that the atmosphere will be welcoming to all at Saturday’s event.

That’s part of the Coalition for a Brighter Greene’s involvement – the group sees that there are so many angles to battling the drug epidemic and is working to help get Greene County CASA off the ground. The coalition is also hoping to train volunteers in mediation to work with truant students.

The concert is 7 p.m. Saturday at the Waynesburg Church of the Nazarene, 115 Deerfield Lane. The first 200 kids will receive a free T-shirt. An adult-themed drama “The Advocate” will be Sunday evening at the church’s theater, and will touch on heavier topics than the youth concert.

For more information, email coalitionbrightergreene@gmail.com, visit the Facebook page at facebook.com/greenehope2017 or the group’s website, coalitionforabrightergreene.org.