CHRISTIAN BLOCK PARTY TODAY IN SIKESTON

SIKESTON, Mo. -- More than 1,000 people are expected to turn out for the fifth annual Christian Block Party today, organizers said.

"We are expecting to feed lunch to 1,500 to 2,000 people," said Janie Pfefferkorn, executive director of Mission Missouri, the faith-based Sikeston organization that is the main sponsor of the event.

Co-sponsors include the federal Weed and Seed program, Ferguson Medical Group in Sikeston and Noranda Aluminum, which operates a plant in New Madrid, Mo.

The block party will be held in a field behind the YMCA on Tanner Street. It will feature everything from Christian speakers to Christian music and plenty of free food. Churches donated much of the food. There will be carnival games for children.

The event will begin with a Unity March at 9:30 a.m. at the Sikeston Depot on Malone Street. Participants will walk or drive to the block party site.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. The closing ceremony is set for 5:30 p.m. with praise dancing presented by Morley Baptist Church, which helped set up the initial block party in 1996.

In between, there will be a variety of Christian music performed. Performers include the Ware Sisters from Cape Girardeau and Chosen, a group from Sikeston.

Christian speakers include Jose Luna of Los Angeles. He is pastor of Spanish Ministries for the Dream Center of the Los Angeles International Church.

Brad and Kathy Lambert of St. Charles, Mo., will discuss their ministries, Wheels for Success and Dress for Success.

Brad Lambert secures donated vehicles, has them repaired and then donates them to individuals who are moving from welfare to work and need transportation.

Kathy Lambert's Dress for Success organization provides donated clothing to welfare-to-work individuals who need suitable clothes to go to job interviews, Pfefferkorn said.

The block party is designed to reach across racial lines, Pfefferkorn said. "You have to build the foundation of friendship."