Correspondent photo / Sean Barron Michelle Steffey of Howland holds several compact discs that contain music from award-winning Christian singer Michael W. Smith, which were for sale during Saturday’s annual Men’s Rally in the Valley event at the Covelli Centre in downtown Youngstown. Smith gave a free concert at the gathering, which, for the first time, opened its doors also to children and entire families.

YOUNGSTOWN — When it came to developing a spiritual relationship with God, Nicole Lowe’s path began similarly to that of a legendary basketball player.

“God was like LeBron James. I knew who he was, but didn’t know him; I personally knew of him,” Lowe, 43, of Warren, said. “I just knew of this guy in the sky.”

Whatever familiarity Lowe has with the famed, longtime Cleveland Cavaliers superstar likely is now eclipsed by her intimacy with the “guy in the sky,” which had its roots in hardship, which has morphed into hope, harmony and heroism.

In May 2018, Lowe lost a loved one to a drug overdose and, to some degree, blamed herself for the tragedy.

For a while, she was “a lost soul just wandering around,” before being encouraged to join Celebrate Recovery, a Christian-based, 12-step program that offers a safe, judgment-free environment to help participants overcome “hurts, hangups and habits,” its mission statement says.

Lowe also was celebrating her close relationship with God via being among the hundreds of men, women and children from the Mahoning Valley and beyond who attended the 17th annual Men’s Rally in the Valley religious gathering Saturday morning and afternoon at the Covelli Centre, downtown.

Acting as master of ceremonies was former longtime radio personality Bob Popa.

For the first time, the free gathering’s doors were open to men, women, children and entire families, event organizers said.

After having attended eight consecutive Celebrate Recovery meetings, six years later, Lowe became “a changed person” who is committed to helping others find their way, she explained.

“God really worked on me on the inside first,” said Lowe, who also serves as a clinical women’s adviser with the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley and is part of Celebrate Recovery’s worship team.

A personal trial and tribulation also was the conduit for Michelle Steffey of Howland to find her spiritual stability and footing.

“I was mad at God and was broken,” she recalled.

The source of Steffey’s anger was the fact that her brother had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease coupled with a condition called Lewy Body Dementia, a progressive brain disorder caused by abnormal protein deposits that accumulate in the brain and adversely affect cells that control one’s cognition, memory, movement and behavior. LBD has no cure or means to slow its progression, though symptoms can be managed.

Helping Steffey better cope with her feelings — which were accented by what she described as the unfairness of her brother’s medical situation — was having joined Celebrate Recovery. In addition, CR helps participants who have unrealistic expectations of others, as well as making it easier for them to forgive those who wrong them, she observed.

On Saturday, Steffey also was among those who were selling compact discs, tote bags, books, T-shirts and other merchandise bearing the name of well-known Christian-oriented singer, songwriter and producer Michael W. Smith, who capped the Men’s Rally in the Valley event with a free two-hour performance.

“It’s a nice free concert in the area. He’s a singer who knows God,” the Rev. Ronald Martin, pastor of Christ Community Church in Youngstown, said.

Roxanne Ross of New Waterford, who also was manning one of the tables filled with Smith-related merchandise, said his lyrics are highly relatable to most people. Smith also has dedicated his life to producing and writing music that fills listeners with inspiration and comfort, along with messages they can apply to their everyday lives, Ross added.

Hundreds of eager fans inside the Covelli Centre eagerly awaited his performance, including Katherine Colyer, 17, of Boardman, and her mother, Llita Colyer.

“I love Christian events; they make me feel God is here,” Katherine Colyer said, adding, “My parents raised me on ’90s Christian music.”

Calling herself “a self-titled Christian T-shirt-aholic,” Katherine Colyer added that her father and grandfather attend the Rally in the Valley gatherings annually.

Llita Colyer, who listens regularly to the local K-LOVE Christian-formatted radio stations, said she has been to two of Smith’s concerts.

Several hundred people of all ages filled the arena as Smith and his band took the stage. They were treated to several of his top hit songs, including “I’ll be Around,” “Place in this World” and “I Will be Here for You.”

At one point during his performance, Smith shared the pain he feels regarding the sudden death of Christopher R. Leidhecker, who had been Smith’s drummer and percussionist before losing his battle with cancer March 4. Leidhecker was 36.

The Nashville-based musician also was a close friend of Smith’s who joined the latter in 2017 as Smith was making personnel changes to his band.

For his part, the 68-year-old Smith, who was born in Kenova, W.Va., has sold more than 18 million albums during his 40-year career and is a three-time Grammy Award winner who also has earned 45 Dove Awards. In addition, he has recorded many No. 1 hit songs.

Smith’s performance Saturday at the Covelli Centre also was the final stop on his 22-city Kingdom Come tour.

Others who spoke and shared their religious testimonials and messages before Smith’s concert were Bishop Timothy J. Clarke, senior pastor of First Church of God in Columbus; Billy Hartwig, who leads a student and young adult ministry at Greenford Christian Church; Chris Holm, a teaching pastor at Upper Room Fellowship in Columbiana and who wrote a book titled “Beyond Christian:’ and David Kohout, who runs an organization called Talk is Cheap Inc., which provides leadership training and personal development.

The Men’s Rally in the Valley also offered baptisms, communion, counseling, prayer teams and more than 50 ministry tables.

Those represented at the gathering included Life Changers Ministries of Northeast Ohio, Life with Christ Ministries, Christian Farmers Outreach, Reels for Christ Ministries, Bella Women’s Center of Warren and Fellowship of Christian Athletes Steel Valley.