Mount Carmel Missionary Church on Laurel Street in Vidalia was the place you should have been Saturday night at 6 p.m.

This place was filled with love, kindness, spirituality and musical talents. It was a wonderful even for the city of Vidalia.

Vidalia’s youth are very talented. Just a little encouragement brought out the best in them Saturday at our Black History Celebration.

We identified our first black president, Mr. Obama; first black to win the Miss Vidalia pageant, Tracee Albert; Chief of Police Arthur Lewis; a lady attorney with her own office, attorney Hu’cheryl Walker, who was the guest speaker; the Rev. Raymond Riley Sr., president of Concordia Parish School; James Lee, superintendent of Concordia Parish Schools; and Doris Polk, first black principal at Vidalia Lower Elementary.

The youth participated in all facets of the program, including the beautiful singing of songs such as “Go Down Moses,” “Wade in the Water,” and many others. Praise dancers swayed from one side to the other during “Wade in the Water” and demonstrated God troubling the water.

Our speaker encouraged everyone to know who you are, what your goals are, and let no one choose your destiny. Put God first and His guidance will help you to decide what is best for you.

You can be whatever you want to if you only believe you can was the message of the event.

The program benefited the Evangelist Susie Shorter Scholarship Foundation, which gives out scholarships each year to deserving members of the eight participating churches.

Donations may be made at Concordia Bank in Vidalia.

Margaret Mays is a Vidalia resident.