The King Star Center hosted a summit Tuesday morning to empower men to become better fathers. Representatives from local agencies spoke on a variety of issues from heart disease to raising children. The summit was held for the community and for fathers of children attending the Head Start center.

“The summit is to empower men to come together and discuss things that are going on in their children’s and family’s lives,” said King Star Director Deborah Cooley. “This is not just the first summit. We will do this again.”

South Central Regional Medical Center’s EmServ Education Coordinator Ernest Hollingsworth shared with the men about the importance of a healthy lifestyle to prevent heart disease.

“Heart disease is the number one killer in our nation, and taking care of other problems that can lead to heart disease such as eating right and exercising is important,” he said.

Hollingsworth stressed the importance for men to be good examples for their families and especially their children.

“The mother and father have to set the example,” he said.

Cecil Ashford with Alive Jones County spoke on the national Fatherhood Initiative program.

“Fathers’ lives directly affect children’s lives,” Ashford said.

Ashford also discussed how fathers should set an example in work ethic, safety, religion and moral values.

Patrolmen from the Laurel Police Department discussed how a father’s positive influence can keep children off the streets and out of trouble.

“We want fathers to make a difference in the children before they get to us,” said LPD patrolman Kenny Rogers.

Rogers and patrolman David Coleman encouraged the fathers to take an active role in talking with their children and being the father figure that children deserve. Rogers said that if children don’t have a positive father figure at home, then they will turn to other sources, and those sources could lead a child down a wrong path.

The Rev. Bill Harper, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church, encouraged men to respect a child’s mother even if a relationship has ended. He also encouraged the men to raise their children from a religious standpoint.

“Taking care of your family is not just a good idea – it is a God idea,” Harper said.