Chicken Jamboree hits TFalls

"This isn't for us, this is for Jesus," said Kim Roberts, volunteer at the Chicken Jamboree at the PPL park in Thompson Falls on Saturday.

"This isn't for us, this is for Jesus," said Kim Roberts, volunteer at the Chicken Jamboree at the PPL park in Thompson Falls on Saturday.

This year marked the 21st anniversary of the Chicken Jamboree hosted by the Christian Men's Prayer Group out of Thompson Falls as their annual fundraiser.

The Chicken Jamboree lived up to its name as pounds of chicken were placed on the barbeque and served to hundreds of guests who gathered at the park to visit with friends, have some lunch and listen to Crystal River Live, a Christian music group headed by Pastor Charlie Denson out of Thompson Falls.

Volunteers from both the men's group and Turning D Ranch served a plethora of chicken, baked beans and potato salad to guests. The chicken was pre-cooked and smoked by Burwell Meats for an extremely low price, which helped make the Chicken Jamboree a huge success.

The lawn was packed with happy and well-fed attendees, who bobbed their heads along to the Christian rock songs. Don Burrell, President of the Christian Men's Prayer Group, said in any given year they will have anywhere from 400 to 500 people stop in to eat and visit.

Each year the men's group raises between $1,000 and $1,500 through donations at the Chicken Jamboree and from local businesses around the county. The membership of the men's group varies each month with anywhere between three to 14 members.

The money raised throughout the year goes to fund mission trips fomembers of the men's group or for kids at the high school who are interested in going on mission trips.

A number of their proceeds also go to the Helping Hands organization, which Burrell said is an organization that helps people in need who are passing through the community and need a little extra support.

Each year, the men's group tries to help fund a mission trip for some of the members of the group or for students to go on a mission trip.

This past spring a group of five individuals went to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for seven days to help build a new Assembly of God church.

"I really enjoy it (mission trips) and knowing that you are helping someone and working for the Lord and we have fun," said Burrell.

Burrell has gone on three mission trips that were in part funded through efforts like the Chicken Jamboree.

In addition to Baton Rouge, Burrell went to both Jamaica and the Bahamas to work on a parsonage and help repair buildings that were destroyed by hurricanes.

The men's group will begin plans for another mission trip in the spring of 2011, as they try to plan one each year.

Questions on this story can be directed to Reporter Danielle Switalski by e-mail at reporter@vp-mi.com or by phone 826-3402.