NATCHEZ — Terri McGruder wants the children of the Miss-Lou to start school on a positive note with a back-to-school celebration.

McGruder is the chairwoman of youth ministry at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church. The ministry is hosting its annual Back-to-School Youth Powerhouse Explosion Thursday.

“Children usually respond by how they see (adults),” McGruder said. “If you go in with a sour mood that’s how the kids respond, when you are upbeat, energetic and excited that’s how the kids are going to be.”

The goal of the event, McGruder said, is to expose students to community role models so the children are inspired from the beginning of the school year.

“Children need to have Christ in them before they go to school, and we are looking for a positive outlet,” McGruder said. “Out with the old, and in with the new.”

This is the fifth year Pilgrim Missionary has hosted a back to school program. McGruder said she was inspired by the results the first year the event was hosted.

“We needed to do something for back to school to get everyone involved,” McGruder said. “The first year we did it, it was like an explosion.”

McGruder said the youth ministry has learned a lot since five years ago, and she expects that the 90-minute program will begin and end on schedule.

The event will have community choir with nearly 140 singers from churches across the Miss-Lou, praise dancers, speakers and group prayer.

McGruder said she hopes for the continued growth of the Youth Powerhouse Explosion, and for more churches and organizations to get involved.

“We are looking for it to be big. Like an explosion,” McGruder said. “To where there is no room within four walls.”

The event will be at 7 p.m. Thursday in Pilgrim Missionary at 117 Pilgrim Blvd.

Rehearsal for the choir will be at 6 p.m. today and Tuesday at Pilgrim Baptist Church with Tony Fields and Alvin Shelby directing the group.