MADISON- The award-winning Christian band MercyMe will headline the two-day Power Leadership Training Party (PLT) held by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Aug. 3-4 at the Von Braun Center. The event is part of the FCA’s conference for students entering grades six through 12 this fall and will feature group huddles and learning sessions along with the concert with MercyMe on Aug. 3 at 7:00 p.m. and the special “Concert Of Prayer” set for 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 4.

The concert with MercyMe is open to the public with ticket prices ranging from $30 to $150.

“The conference is being held to educate, equip and engage the community with FCA and is the largest event of its kind in our history,” said Ken Burnett, Multi-Area Director of Northeast Alabama FCA. “The event is set to help families to be encouraging, not discouraging as many of today’s youth don’t receive the right direction in their lives. We want to excite the kids and their families through the connection of spiritual togetherness.”

MercyMe, best known for its No. 1 and multi-million selling single “I Can Only Imagine,” a true story based on the abusive life of the group’s front man Bart Millard, has won numerous awards including Song of the Decade (“Word of God Speak”) and the No. 1 Artist of the Decade in Christian music. After years of struggles in the music business, the group from Greenville, Tex. debuted on the national scene in 2001. Since their birth in music, the five-man band has been to the mountain top of their genre many times and is currently on a long tour across the country.

Besides its lead singer, Millard, the group consists of Robby Shaffer, Nathan Cochran, Michael Scheuchzer and Barry Graul.

Through a representative for the group, members said they are certainly looking forward to the concert and assisting FCA.

The PLT Party will also feature Andy Mineo was of the top hip hop artists today and keynote speaker Neal Jeffrey, former Baylor University and NFL quarterback who translates his own personal weakness to inspire others. Tickets for students participating in the two-day event are $119.

Burnett said the PTL Party is being held in loving memory of Princess Madison Wood who was in college after graduating from Sardis High located in Etowah County. Wood passed away last year after a two-year battle with bone cancer.

“She was a spiritual linebacker as she never said, why me,” added Burnett. “With this conference we hope to encourage and help her parents deal with their grieving and to help keep her legacy alive.”

How the superstar group MercyMe got involved with the conference was one of Wood’s last wishes before she passed away. Just before undergoing an intensive procedure she asked her mother to lay with her in her hospital bed. While embraced, Wood asked her mother to listen to the song “Even If” by MercyMe. The song immediately became a powerful message for the family.

“Madison asked to have MercyMe play at the conference,” said Burnett. “Although their schedule was nearly totally booked, they were told of Madison’s request and message. Being based nearby in Nashville, the group members decided to help. They felt they needed to be here.”

Details on the conference, PTL Party and the FCA are available at www.northalabamafca.org.