Men and boys in the Crenshaw County area are invited to attend the 28th Annual Swam Supper on Feb. 25 at the Tom Harbin Farm Center on Airport Road in Luverne.

Steve DeFee, pastor at Cornerstone Christian Church in Luverne said the interdenominational event is designed to encourage men and introduce the gospel to people who might not ordinarily enter a house of worship.

“It was designed to encourage men and introduce people to the gospel who would not ordinarily go to a house of worship,” DeFee said. “It’s not just to go and have a cookout, it’s to present the message of Christ.”

The event begins at 9 a.m. and will feature a variety of traditional southern and wild game delicacies including grilled quail, burgers, turkey, camp stew, venison, frog legs, chicken, bacon, fish, jambalaya, gumbo, salt pork, and alligator.

Along with door prizes, the meal will feature guest speaker Daniel Wilson, Evangelism director for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.

“We hold attendance to men and boys because we want the men to feel comfortable opening up,” DeFee said. “The message that’s presented is a message of salvation but it’s oriented to men and to their boys. We just felt like this was a door the Lord opened for us to use and to reach men.”

Dennis Moseley, a member at South Luverne Baptist Church, has helped organize the event since its inception and said churches of all denominations help make it possible.

“I contact people to donate,” Moseley said. “It takes probably $8,000 to do this and some cooks provide the food they make. And we have about every denomination you can think of helping.

“This is not about having the church people come out. We want people to come who wouldn’t step foot in a church somewhere. That’s our purpose.”

DeFee said guests have come from as far away as New York. Organizers welcome area residents to help in the effort and hope to inspire younger generations to engage as volunteers.

“We’re encouraging younger generations to get more active, to be involved, and to pick up where us seniors can move on the side a little,” DeFee said. “We want to give them the torch to continue to move forward.”

The event is free and food will be available beginning at 9 a.m., rain or shine. For more information call Steve DeFee at (334) 304-0413 or Dennis Moseley at (334) 670-1002.