• Gospel singing. Mt. Carmel Church of Christ will host its third annual gospel a cappella singing at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4 at 7805 U.S. 72 in Athens. Refreshments will be served after the event. More information: 256-729-8343.

• Homecoming. Sand Springs Baptist Church homecoming will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 6. There will be lunch and singing after service on South Road in Athens.

• Summer gospel. North Athens Church of Christ at 19159 Alabama 127 in Athens will host summer gospel meetings at 7 p.m. nightly Aug. 6-10. Paul Sanders, minister of Evangelism Southside Church of Christ in Rogersville, will be the guest speaker. Transportation is available for those in need. More information: 256-874-1941.

• Leadership course. Curtis Coleman Center for Religious Studies at Athens State University will continue a free four-part course, “Secrets of the Exceptional Leader,” Aug. 10. Courses will be in the chapel of Founders Hall, second floor. It will cover the following topics: Discovering Your Strengths, Growing Your Confidence, Stabilizing Your Emotions and Anxieties and Secrets of Managing Conflict. More information: 256-233-6508.

• Revival singing. Full Gospel Tabernacle, 17470 Seven Mile Post Road in Athens, will host two services a day featuring Australian Christian artist and evangelist Paul Furlong Aug. 11-14. Services at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. daily. More Information: www.revival.com.au.

• Southern gospel singing. Elk River Baptist Church, 10020 Upper Snake Road in Athens, will host Southern gospel music artists Josh and Ashley Franks at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12. Refreshments served at 4 p.m. More information: 256-278-0588.

• Scholarship banquet. Davids Temple Missionary Baptist Church, 11273 Stewart Road in Tanner, will host the annual Nella White STEM Scholarship Banquet at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12. Guest speaker is State Rep. Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, and Christian comedian Joy Bryant of Birmingham. Singing will be by the Woodruff family. Tickets are $30 and must be purchased by Aug. 6.

• Day observance. The annual Missionary Day Observance of Sweet Home M. B. Church will be held 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 13. The Rev. Cynthia McCrary, associate minister of Fletcher’s Chapel P.B. Church in Greenbrier, will be the guest speaker. All are invited to come and worship on this occasion. The church address is 803 Westmoreland St., Athens. More information: 256-694-5476.

• After-school program. The after-school program at David’s Temple Church in Tanner will begin Monday, Aug. 14. The program accepts children ages 5-18 and lasts 3-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Homework assistants, tutoring and study hall will be available. Van pickup is available to all Athens City Schools except Athens High School. Children from Tanner High School can ride the bus. Cost for the program is $10 per week per student. More information: Geraldine McDonald, 256-355-1343.

• Annual session. The annual session of The Greater Richland Creek Missionary Baptist Association will be Aug. 18-20 at the association’s central building on Bledsoe Road in Pulaski, Tennessee. The association is celebrating its 150th anniversary this session. There will be a banquet 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, at First National Bank on South 1st Street in Pulaski. The speaker will be Pastor Morris Tipton of First Missionary Baptist Church in east Nashville. Banquet tickets are $25. Pastor O. L. McWilliams is the moderator.

Church briefs must be submitted in writing, either on a form available at The News Courier office at 410 W. Green St., Athens, or by sending an email to newscouriersoundoff@gmail.com or a fax to 256-233-7753.