An ?Uprising? is planned as the Salvation Army?s Year of Children and Youth takes an eventful turn beginning tonight.

Free concerts and fun days are planned until Sunday morning.

Salvation Army White Hill pastor Captain Terence Hale said the events are designed to lead children to Christ, but he stressed not necessarily through the Salvation Army?s doors.

The aim essentially is to spread the word and not to get new members, said Captain Hale, also a youth minister.

?You can worship wherever you want,? he said. ?Our plan is not to build our congregation. It is for the youth of Bermuda.

?My wife Jennifer and I head up all the youth work for the Salvation Army in Bermuda. In Canada we pastored quite a few churches before coming here and my wife was a youth pastor before we got married.?

Captain Hale said the events are free and open to all young people from every walk of life.

?As well as schools, we have contacted all the major youth organisations such as PRIDE,? he said. ?Our hope is to get a lot of kids from the community, some kids from other churches who will be attending, but also children who don?t attend church at all. And that is why there is no charge and everything is free because that way it doesn?t turn anyone away. If you want to come you can.?

The event is called the Uprising because the thought behind it is ?overthrowing the darkness?, he said.

?At the Salvation Army it was declared by our international leader to be the Year of Children and Youth,? he stated, ?And so in connection with that we are holding this weekend for both children and youth.

?The focus of it is to encourage young children and teenagers alike to rise up and make a difference in the world when it comes to injustices, poverty, homelessness or whatever it may be and in our sense sin and other things.

?The hope of the weekend is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and about working for God to change the world around you.?

Captain Hale said several things have been found for the young people to get involved with.

?We have a guest speaker, Major Lester Ferguson, coming from the Bahamas,? he said. ?And he is the leader or the divisional commander of the Salvation Army in the Bahamas. He is our bible teacher for the weekend.

?We also have a gospel hip hop group called Awe StruKC and their point is that they have the beats that are relevant to young people, but it?s the message that makes a difference ? they can reach young people that way.?

This evening at the Pembroke Community Park, on Parsons Road, will feature the Uprising Kickoff Concert, when Kansas-based gospel rap group Awe-StruKC will be the main attraction.

Along with this there will be a spiritual blessing by Major Ferguson and three-a-side basketball tournament. Sports enthusiasts who want to take part can register by e-mailing uprising05gmail.com.

Tomorrow, events will continue with day and evening happenings in Victoria Park.

At 11 a.m. there will be the Children?s Extravaganza with a bouncy castle and puppet show to boot.

At 8 p.m to 11 p.m. the Uprising Concert will feature local youth talent and Awe StruKC.

Sunday will bring the Uprising Worship session at 11 a.m. at the North Street, Salvation Army Citadel. There will also be a free lunch afterwards.

For more information visit www.sab.bm.