ARCADIA—During the last 32 years, the Arcadia United Methodist Church has hosted an annual family banquet and through these events has seen a wide range of coaches and professionals bring inspiring messages to area families. The speakers are all somehow associated with athletics but advocate for family activities, family relationships, faith, and God.
This year’s Family Banquet will be held on Saturday, March 24 at 7 p.m. at the Arcadia High School Gym (320 Owens St, Arcadia, NE 68815). This year’s featured speaker is DeMoine Adams. He was a University of Nebraska standout football player originally from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He was a three-year starting Blackshirt defensive end who led the team in quarterback sacks, helped the Huskers win a Big 12 conference championship in 1999, and helped lead the Huskers to the National Championship Rose Bowl in 2002. He also enjoyed five years of pro football in the CFL, NFL, and AFL.
Off the field, DeMoine received Academic All-American honors, Academic All-Big 12 honors, the Arthur Ashe Award, Nebraska Lifter of the Year Award, and the Nebraska Fellowship of Christian Athletes Athlete of the Year Award. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with minors in English, History, Communications, Ethnic Studies and African Studies. DeMoine went on to receive his Master’s degree in Educational Psychology and is currently pursuing his Doctorate degree at the University of Nebraska.
Rollen Sell with the Arcadia Methodist Men said the group works with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to bring in speakers. “He’s a three-time Brook Berringer Citizenship Award winner. That speaks well I think. Brook was such an amazing man. People who win that award have to be a lot like him,” Sell said of Adams.
As a 3-time Brook Berringer Citizenship award recipient, DeMoine speaks numerous times each year throughout the Midwest as a Motivational Speaker and Consultant. He has a true passion for helping people reach their full human potential as leaders and winners in life. He also works with the TeamMates Mentoring Program inspiring youth to reach their full potential through mentoring. DeMoine’s motto in life is: “Once you see where you’re going, then everything you do must correspond with where you’re going.” He will also be sharing his personal testimony as well as his personal insights on the hiring of new head coach, Scott Frost.
The event will also feature a catered meal by Country Catering and music performed by Arcadia High School students. Tickets cost $10 and cover the cost of the meal. They must be purchased in advance by calling Rollen Sell at 308-202-0136. This year, thanks to an anonymous donor, tickets will be given to youth 18 and under but you must call in advance.
“One other added feature we have this year though is a real blessing to people with families. Because the Arcadia United Methodist Church is going to pay for any ticket for youth 18 years and younger. So, a family with six kids, mom and dad can come with their two $10 tickets and the kids will eat free courtesy of the Arcadia United Methodist Church. And we’re just thrilled about that and we hope this will bring more of those families in that may be on a tight budget and didn’t think they could afford it,” Sell said.
Call by March 19 to get your tickets for the 33rd Annual Family Banquet in Arcadia.
“You know, sports is such a huge thing in our communities–all of these communities around here—we just came through a marvelous representation down in Lincoln in the boys state tournament and the girls the week before. Yet we find that sometimes athletics kind of gets to overshadowing and becoming a higher priority than family and God and we want people and families to understand that it takes a balance of these things to make life really quality and what it needs to be. So that’s our goal and has been for 33 years,” Sell said.
