School students confront a devil’s brew of issues and challenges these days such as school shootings, teenage suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, and bullying. One man, Bob Holmes, offers an unconventional, but hopefully, effective positive message of hope through his one-man volleyball exhibition and rally that he will be presenting at Loyalsock High School on March 21 at 7:00 p.m.

Holmes’ appearance is being sponsored by the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Williamsport.

Tom Henderson is Tabernacle Baptist’s Music Minister and has known Holmes for about 13 years. He brought Holmes to this area about 12 years ago and believes that his exhibition, and hopeful motivational message, is just the right thing for today’s students to experience.

Holmes will be in Lycoming County from March 19-21 and will make appearances at Montoursville and Jersey Shore High Schools, as well the Meadowbrook Christian Academy. Holmes’ appearance at Loyalsock High School on March 21 will be the main event of his local appearances. It is free and open to the public.

“I have followed what Bob has been doing all over the country, and I hear from him all the time,” Henderson told Webb Weekly. “He serves as kind of a beacon of hope and the Lord has given him the strength to play in more than 19,000 volleyball games. He has been featured on the Family Channel, ‘CBS This Morning’ and several other shows. We use him as a way of saving young people from experiencing some of the evils of our society. It means a lot to me to be able to bring him back to this area.”

Henderson believes that Holmes has a positive influence on people, particularly youth. He said he is trying to enable Holmes to reach as many students as possible with his “Beat the Odds” message.

According to Holmes’ website, he hails from New Hampshire and described himself as “not much of an athlete.” He started playing volleyball after a doctor recommended that he get more exercise to help deal with a bad back.

He started playing volleyball on a regular basis, and after seeing the Harlem Globetrotters perform and the pleasure and entertainment they gave spectators of all ages, but particularly children, he thought doing such a thing involving volleyball might be just the thing, and he started playing as a one-man volleyball team, in order to demonstrate the concept of “Beat the Odds.”

Holmes believes the gimmick of a one-man volleyball team is a great way to grab the attention of young people through fun and an interactive assembly that provides them a message of hope against bullying, drug and alcohol abuse, not quitting when you encounter adversity, and teenage suicide.

He has performed and given his message of hope at more than 6,000 schools across the country.

At the rally on March 21, there will be free pizza and door prizes. For those seeking further information about this event, you can access Holmes’ website at http://www.BeatBob.com, or you can get information locally from Henderson at his email, pt-jan@juno.com or phone him at 570-971-5973.