Gray Dairy Queen hosts weekly prayer breakfast for Jones County students
More than 200 middle and high school students are expected each Wednesday for breakfast, fellowship and devotion before school.
GRAY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Before the school day begins, hundreds of Jones County students are gathering at the Dairy Queen in Gray for a weekly prayer breakfast.
The event takes place every Wednesday and is open to students in grades six through 12.
Students begin arriving around 5:30 a.m. for breakfast and fellowship. The morning program gets underway with trivia around 6:50 a.m., followed by a devotion and prayer at 7 a.m.
Dairy Queen owner Justin Kelly says the goal is to give students an opportunity to spend time together while beginning their day with faith.
“You know it’s super important to me because I know God is real and God can do anything that you need him to do,” Kelly said. “He can answer any prayer that you need him to answer.”
Kelly says the gathering also gives students time to socialize with their friends before heading to class.
“If we can get them in here and let them socialize and have a good time with their friends and then we also had the devotion and in the prayer and you know they’re all prayed over for the day,” Kelly said.
More than 200 students are expected to attend the breakfast each week.
Transportation is also provided after the event. Buses wait in the Dairy Queen parking lot to take students to school, giving parents another option for getting their children to class after the early-morning gathering.
Kelly says he believes the breakfast gives students a chance to start their Wednesday on a positive note.
“I mean it’s hard to beat starting a Wednesday on a right foot like that,” Kelly said.
The weekly gathering is another example of the Gray Dairy Queen’s involvement in the local community. The restaurant and Kelly have previously received recognition for community fundraising efforts, including support for children’s health care.
