The local non-profit ministry Furthering The Lords Youth, also known as FLY, was born in the oddest of places, a tire store in Pine Bluff. Bruce Roberts, president of Roberts Brothers Tire at the time, was working his regular five phone lines at one time when a call came in needing a very odd trailer tire size. The caller on the other end was a past customer of Roberts Brothers.
After assuring the caller they could fit the strange tire, Roberts inquired as to what the man was doing for a living. The man answered, bus driver for a Christian rock band. Roberts again asked what do you do for your real living, the man answered as before, I am the bus driver for a Christian rock band. Having never been exposed to the brand new world of Christian rock in 2001, he was more than curious. When the trailer got to Pine Bluff for its fitting, along with it came a sample CD of the band them named "Frontline".
It was at the same time in his life that Roberts son had a peeked interest in being a musician and along with other local young teens had formed a band with no formal direction. So impressed with the quality of the music as well as the accompanying message Bruce arranged to have the band perform at a local movie theater. In a quest to find a direction for the local teenagers, Roberts found a direction for himself.
Excited about the new found genre of music another show with an El Dorado Christian rock band, Tinman Jones, was scheduled and this time the younger musicians were asked to open the show. Still lacking the direction needed to commit to being a Christian band the younger musicians were spellbound by the skill and religious message of both Frontline and Tinman Jones. It was at that time they choose to pursue the fledgling industry as a Christian rock band.
With constant contact with Frontline a friendship was formed that led to a third and most dramatic show held at First Presbyterian Church in Pine Bluff. Roberts was moved to commit his time, effort and life to the service of spreading the word of Jesus Christ. One of Frontline original songs was named Fly. There was no acronym at that time but Roberts loved the song and saw it used as something bigger. “It’s a God thing” said Roberts. He then saw Fly standing for Furthering the Lords Youth.
While sharing his vision of an organized group to promote Christian rock shows in the area to reach the local youth, many of the original attendees shared the goal and FLY was off. The moment was so powerful that after much prayerful thought one of the members of Frontline made the decision to leave the band and join the new ministry that existed only in the minds and dreams of its members at that point. Dustin Bartell guitarist for Frontline, Roberts and Beau Talbot were just a few of the many that were on board for the new ministry. They both used it as a directive tool to guide the younger band in which they both had sons.
The goal of FLY is to bring contemporary Christian music and Christian rock music to the Pine Bluff area. It is the common goal of all participants in FLY to reach the youth of the area through music and strives to reach all youth.
After months of planning Vertical Fest 2001 was held at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. With a star studded line up, containing Frontline, as well a grammy winning band Switchfoot and many more the day had come to share the new music and message to the crowds in southeast Arkansas.
However, the results of the event were not what anyone had expected. Spiritually there was no doubt that FLY had accomplished their goal, but financially the results could not have been anymore dismal. On of the best events to be in the Pine Bluff area in years had so much red ink it was paralyzing. Fly a brand new ministry with a brand new approach had pulled off a massive event and was left with over a $20,000 deficit.
Without a blink, Roberts and Talbot embraced the debt and knew by some method the debt would be paid and Vertical Fest 2002 would be a real happening.
“If God wanted us to have the event he would see the debt was taken care of,” said Talbot. While preparing to go to the bank and individually address the shortage an anonymous benefactor had recently inherited some Wal-Mart stock and offered it to FLY as a loan to cover the shortage.
The parameter of the loan is to continue Vertical Fest 2002 and if there was a net income we would pay the debt off, if there was a shortage the debt would be addressed at that time but no demand would be made. The stock was delivered, sold and the proceeds that were within just hundreds of the exact amount needed to satisfy all creditors and vendors.
One more Vertical Fest and many smaller shows generated proceeds in an amount to completely repay the benefactor all of the principle of the original loan. Unshaken by the rocky start of the young ministry Roberts many times single handedly lead the charge to continue the almost daily requirements of time needed to nurture the progress of the organization.
Through the years to follow there have been dozens of hard working people to come through the meetings that have put their effort into FLY as their careers have passed them through the Pine Bluff area. However it is the original core group that have remained and persevered to make a success out of FLY and its mission.
The original goal of FLY remains the same, but the reality of being a self sustaining ministry in a delta region became a dream. Where the same concerts performing in the Dallas region the promoters have two million youth to draw from in the local driving area, Arkansas has barely more total population in the entire state, making it impossible to compete without outside support.
Fly has had nine years of unbelievable support form local businesses as well as individuals. Most of the supporters remain year after year and new ones are added annually. Bruce and the FLY committee acknowledge that without the unselfish support of these sponsors the show could not go on. In the 9 years of its operation FLY has hosted more than 150 shows, both small youth room type shows up to the larger shows at the Pine Bluff Convention Center and The Clear Channel Metro Plex in Little Rock.
Success of Fly is not measured by the number of shows nor the number in attendance at any one show. The purpose and success of FLY is reaching people with the message of Jesus Christ.
At one show held at the Convention Center, Joseph Rojas. Lead singer of Seventh Day Slumber, gave his testimony about his drug addiction and eventually near death experience. At the conclusion of the testimony he made the decision to have an alter call at a rock concert. Asking the more than 1,200 in attendance to back up to allow an vast empty space in the arena, the call led more than 150 youth to dedicate or rededicate their lives to Jesus Christ.
His role a President of FLY has put him in contact with people from all over the world. With the desire stronger than ever and the contacts opening doors as only God can Roberts made the decision to pursue the music ministry and promotion full time. Bruce and family recently relocated to a suburb outside of Nashville Tenn. Resigning the presidency to the vice president Beau Talbot.
Vertical Fest 2009 will be the first show without their founding member. In honor of his tireless commitment to the goals of FLY the current board voted to make Vertical Fest 2009 in the Honor of Bruce Roberts.
In the years prior the day has been in memory of many of our friends Natalee Holloway, Matt Evans, Wayne Hendricks, and last year Allen Chessman.
For more information on how to help support the days activities or to honor Bruce Roberts please telephone FLY at their office in White Hall 870-247-8672 or drop by 7003 Dollarway Rd.
The local non-profit ministry Furthering The Lords Youth, also known as FLY, was born in the oddest of places, a tire store in Pine Bluff. Bruce Roberts, president of Roberts Brothers Tire at the time, was working his regular five phone lines at one time when a call came in needing a very odd trailer tire size. The caller on the other end was a past customer of Roberts Brothers.
After assuring the caller they could fit the strange tire, Roberts inquired as to what the man was doing for a living. The man answered, bus driver for a Christian rock band. Roberts again asked what do you do for your real living, the man answered as before, I am the bus driver for a Christian rock band. Having never been exposed to the brand new world of Christian rock in 2001, he was more than curious. When the trailer got to Pine Bluff for its fitting, along with it came a sample CD of the band them named "Frontline".
It was at the same time in his life that Roberts son had a peeked interest in being a musician and along with other local young teens had formed a band with no formal direction. So impressed with the quality of the music as well as the accompanying message Bruce arranged to have the band perform at a local movie theater. In a quest to find a direction for the local teenagers, Roberts found a direction for himself.
Excited about the new found genre of music another show with an El Dorado Christian rock band, Tinman Jones, was scheduled and this time the younger musicians were asked to open the show. Still lacking the direction needed to commit to being a Christian band the younger musicians were spellbound by the skill and religious message of both Frontline and Tinman Jones. It was at that time they choose to pursue the fledgling industry as a Christian rock band.
With constant contact with Frontline a friendship was formed that led to a third and most dramatic show held at First Presbyterian Church in Pine Bluff. Roberts was moved to commit his time, effort and life to the service of spreading the word of Jesus Christ. One of Frontline original songs was named Fly. There was no acronym at that time but Roberts loved the song and saw it used as something bigger. “It’s a God thing” said Roberts. He then saw Fly standing for Furthering the Lords Youth.
While sharing his vision of an organized group to promote Christian rock shows in the area to reach the local youth, many of the original attendees shared the goal and FLY was off. The moment was so powerful that after much prayerful thought one of the members of Frontline made the decision to leave the band and join the new ministry that existed only in the minds and dreams of its members at that point. Dustin Bartell guitarist for Frontline, Roberts and Beau Talbot were just a few of the many that were on board for the new ministry. They both used it as a directive tool to guide the younger band in which they both had sons.
The goal of FLY is to bring contemporary Christian music and Christian rock music to the Pine Bluff area. It is the common goal of all participants in FLY to reach the youth of the area through music and strives to reach all youth.
After months of planning Vertical Fest 2001 was held at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. With a star studded line up, containing Frontline, as well a grammy winning band Switchfoot and many more the day had come to share the new music and message to the crowds in southeast Arkansas.
However, the results of the event were not what anyone had expected. Spiritually there was no doubt that FLY had accomplished their goal, but financially the results could not have been anymore dismal. On of the best events to be in the Pine Bluff area in years had so much red ink it was paralyzing. Fly a brand new ministry with a brand new approach had pulled off a massive event and was left with over a $20,000 deficit.
Without a blink, Roberts and Talbot embraced the debt and knew by some method the debt would be paid and Vertical Fest 2002 would be a real happening.
“If God wanted us to have the event he would see the debt was taken care of,” said Talbot. While preparing to go to the bank and individually address the shortage an anonymous benefactor had recently inherited some Wal-Mart stock and offered it to FLY as a loan to cover the shortage.
The parameter of the loan is to continue Vertical Fest 2002 and if there was a net income we would pay the debt off, if there was a shortage the debt would be addressed at that time but no demand would be made. The stock was delivered, sold and the proceeds that were within just hundreds of the exact amount needed to satisfy all creditors and vendors.
One more Vertical Fest and many smaller shows generated proceeds in an amount to completely repay the benefactor all of the principle of the original loan. Unshaken by the rocky start of the young ministry Roberts many times single handedly lead the charge to continue the almost daily requirements of time needed to nurture the progress of the organization.
Through the years to follow there have been dozens of hard working people to come through the meetings that have put their effort into FLY as their careers have passed them through the Pine Bluff area. However it is the original core group that have remained and persevered to make a success out of FLY and its mission.
The original goal of FLY remains the same, but the reality of being a self sustaining ministry in a delta region became a dream. Where the same concerts performing in the Dallas region the promoters have two million youth to draw from in the local driving area, Arkansas has barely more total population in the entire state, making it impossible to compete without outside support.
Fly has had nine years of unbelievable support form local businesses as well as individuals. Most of the supporters remain year after year and new ones are added annually. Bruce and the FLY committee acknowledge that without the unselfish support of these sponsors the show could not go on. In the 9 years of its operation FLY has hosted more than 150 shows, both small youth room type shows up to the larger shows at the Pine Bluff Convention Center and The Clear Channel Metro Plex in Little Rock.
Success of Fly is not measured by the number of shows nor the number in attendance at any one show. The purpose and success of FLY is reaching people with the message of Jesus Christ.
At one show held at the Convention Center, Joseph Rojas. Lead singer of Seventh Day Slumber, gave his testimony about his drug addiction and eventually near death experience. At the conclusion of the testimony he made the decision to have an alter call at a rock concert. Asking the more than 1,200 in attendance to back up to allow an vast empty space in the arena, the call led more than 150 youth to dedicate or rededicate their lives to Jesus Christ.
His role a President of FLY has put him in contact with people from all over the world. With the desire stronger than ever and the contacts opening doors as only God can Roberts made the decision to pursue the music ministry and promotion full time. Bruce and family recently relocated to a suburb outside of Nashville Tenn. Resigning the presidency to the vice president Beau Talbot.
Vertical Fest 2009 will be the first show without their founding member. In honor of his tireless commitment to the goals of FLY the current board voted to make Vertical Fest 2009 in the Honor of Bruce Roberts.
In the years prior the day has been in memory of many of our friends Natalee Holloway, Matt Evans, Wayne Hendricks, and last year Allen Chessman.
For more information on how to help support the days activities or to honor Bruce Roberts please telephone FLY at their office in White Hall 870-247-8672 or drop by 7003 Dollarway Rd.
