It may have been the live band, the lights and stage smoke or the funny animal videos that drew close to 3,000 students and adults to the Suwannee County Coliseum to see Future Now Jan. 31. But for at least 246 participants, it was the message.

The group provides an assembly program for public schools during the day where they communicate messages of hope and encouragement. Through skit performances and real-life stories students are encouraged to stay in school, prepare for the future and stay away from drugs and alcohol.

During the day program at Suwannee Middle School and Suwannee High School last week, students got a visit from Kelly Jennings, who was a first round draft pick for the Seattle Seahawks. Jennings is from Live Oak.

Jennings spoke to students about his faithfulness and hard work that got him where he is today. His message was to be the best you can be where you are on the way to where you want to go.

“It’s a process. There are not a lot of jobs but there’s lots of opportunities,” said Future Now Director Chris Musgrove. “Do what you’re good at.”

During school assemblies Future Now Ministries of Valdosta, Ga., invites students to its night program where ministry is added to the mix. Students also have a chance to win an iPod or an x-box 360.

At the night program students discover Future Now is not just about making good choices and staying out of trouble. Messages about salvation and how Christ can steer lives are prevalent. The altar calls were filled with 246 who responded to the message at the night program.

“We’re seeing kids who aren’t thinking about their future. Having a plan and purpose, kids can grab a hold of this,” said Musgrove.

Musgrove himself had a plan and purpose 17 years ago. A youth pastor at Melody Christian Center, he invited a Fellowship of Christian Athletes leader to minister to area youth at the Suwannee County Coliseum. To his surprise the event was packed out and about 400 responded to altar calls. The experience gave him a vision to impact youth in the public school system.

In 2001 Future Now held its first school assembly. Since then the group has performed at 63 different schools in North Florida and South Georgia and as far away as North Carolina and Pennsylvania. And the group has gotten so much attention they’re getting calls from around the nation with invitations.

How is Future Now preparing for the future? They are working on fulfilling invitations from other states by training additional teams to expand the outreach.

But as Musgrove says fulfilling your vision takes time.

“Our goal is to be doing one school a week before we can duplicate our efforts,” he said.

The group’s goal is to visit two schools a month by August and by next January visit one school per week.

Musgrove says fulfilling your calling takes time and effort.

The group carries out this idea by preparing for its programs several weeks in advance. Future Now began collaborating with other churches and organizations in November 2006 to prepare for the January event in Suwannee County. The group, formerly based out of Live Oak, had between 40-50 local churches jump on board.

Such preparation is all a part of the follow-up plan by giving local churches a chance to place youth into churches. Youth responding to altar calls have contact information put into a data base for follow-up purposes.

Vanessa Fultz can be reached by calling 386-362-1734 ext. 130 or by e-mail at vanessa.fultz@gaflnews.com.