Mark Knott, left, and Ray Doerschuk, center, offer prayer and guidance to Dave Plegge of Salem during Saturday’s 16th annual Men’s Rally in the Valley at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown. Plegge was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. (Photo by Sean Barron)

YOUNGSTOWN — As anybody likely would be, Dave Plegge was frightened when he received a diagnosis about six weeks ago that he had prostate cancer.

Easing his natural worry, however, was another “PC” — prayer and compassion.

“It scares me because I was trying to lose weight. Get this: I lost 25 pounds without even trying,” said Plegge, 73, of Salem.

Nevertheless, his fear was allayed considerably, courtesy of several prayer team members who gathered around Plegge and offered prayer and guidance for his recovery and well-being during the 16th annual Men’s Rally in the Valley gathering Saturday at Stambaugh Auditorium.

His wife, Ramona Plegge, also is instrumental in providing needed spiritual guidance, Plegge said, adding that he is scheduled to receive his first treatment Tuesday at Salem Regional Medical Center.

Offering spiritual assistance to Plegge were prayer team members Ray Doerschuk, Lamar Johnson and Mark Knott.

“This makes me cry because I know there’s hope with Jesus,” Plegge said.

Also grateful for a healthful dose of prayer was Walter Deecki III, 23, of Warren, who is battling a drug and alcohol problem and receives help from Adult & Teen Challenge Ohio Valley in Youngstown.

“It’s helping me be stronger in my faith,” Deecki said. “I grew up in a Christian home, but I did not know Jesus.”

Saturday’s five-hour Rally in the Valley, however, has helped him bridge that gap, said Deecki, who’s been with Adult & Teen Challenge nearly 10 months and plans to graduate in August.

The underlying thrust of the religious-based event, themed “Reflection of Christ: What’s in Your Mirror?” is to try to reach and gather men, especially those who rarely or never attend church, in Christian unity via prayer, worship and

fellowship, said Bob Popa, who organized the event.

Popa, a former broadcaster with WPIC-AM 790 in Sharon, Pa., added that the gathering’s power also lies in providing a path for many of the men to move in a different and more positive direction in their lives. Men should be their families’ spiritual leaders, according to Scripture, he said.

An estimated 1,000 to 1,500 mostly men came to Saturday’s event, which has grown since its debut in 2010. The overarching goal, though, has remained unchanged: “to glorify Jesus Christ and God,” Popa said.

The event also spotlighted several presenters, including Brant P. Hanson, 55, a nationally syndicated Christian radio personality and author who spoke largely on masculinity.

The other speakers were the Rev. Christopher Brock, lead pastor with Lisbon-based Life with Christ Ministries; Jim Loboy, a morning broadcaster with WYTV Channel 33; Brian “Head” Welch, a guitarist and co-founder of the metal band Korn; and Brenden Lewis, worship leader for Victory Church near Lowellville.

Hanson, who graduated in 1991 from the University of Illinois with a degree in journalism, equated masculinity in men with the importance of being “keepers of the garden,” meaning they should strive to be protectors who work to cultivate kindness and compassion while uplifting others.

“When women feel secure with us, they find us attractive,” Hanson said to applause.

Specifically, most women are more drawn to men who exude strength with kindness, security and gentleness, not excessive docility and superiority, he added.

“You can be toxically passive or toxically domineering,” Hanson said.

During his 45-minute talk, Hanson showed a video of Southwood High School in Shreveport, Louisiana, which was plagued by fights a few years ago that resulted in the arrests of 23 students in a three-day period.

As a result of the violence, about 40 fathers formed a group called Dads on Duty. The men took it upon themselves to greet students at the school and create a more positive learning environment, and in a short time, the violence was largely quelled.

“We stopped fighting; people started going to class,” one of the students said.

“That’s masculinity,” Hanson said, adding that everyone has the capacity to “defend the garden” in a world that desperately needs such care.

One of the Scriptures passages from which he read was Psalms 143:8, which states the desire of one to learn more about God’s love, come to him in prayer and seek his guidance.

“The world is desperate for men who actually trust God,” said Hanson, who also penned two books, “The Men We Need: God’s purpose for the Manly Man” and “The (Young) Men We Need: God’s Purpose for Every Guy and How You Can Live it Out.”

The rally also featured opportunities for baptisms, along with several resource tables with representatives from Teen & Adult Challenge, Heartbeat of Columbiana County, Celebrate Recovery, Heart Reach Ministries and Youngstown-based Boy Scout Troop 55.

On hand was Lori Valenzisi of Boardman, who was selling T-shirts with religious-themed sayings.

She also had flyers about an upcoming event, “March for Jesus Mahoning Valley,” set for 10 a.m. June 7 at the former South High School, 1833 Market St., on the South Side.

In addition, the event included a “Youth Wonderfun” gathering for young people across the street in Wick Park. Providing the entertainment was the All in Youth Band of Lisbon.

Before Saturday’s Rally in the Valley, a prayer had been said over each seat in Stambaugh Auditorium on which someone sat, Popa said.