Young people gather in Akron for annual Baptist convention

By Katie Byard

Beacon Journal staff writer

POSTED: 08:04 p.m. EDT, Jul 07, 2009

Alexandria Preston had a bad attitude last year.



The 16-year-old didn't want to spend the week at a church gathering.



This year, she said, 'I actually came willingly.'



Alexandria is one of more than 100 young people attending the 104th annual convention of the Northern Ohio Baptist District Association.



The association  made up of about 70 predominantly African-American Baptist churches  is gathering in Akron this year.



The young people are meeting at Mount Lebanon Baptist Church on Edward Avenue in Akron's North Hill neighborhood. The convention's host church, Mount Zion, is just a few blocks away on Cuyahoga Street.



The churches are members of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc., with offices in Nashville, Tenn.