The ManUp Conference at the Troy Recreation Center on Saturday is sold out, but that doesn’t mean that other people around the area won’t get a chance to hear Rick Burgess of the popular radio program “Rick and Bubba” speak.

Burgess will speak at both the 9 and 11 a.m. services at Bush Memorial Baptist Church in Troy on Sunday.

“Since the Saturday conference is sold-out, the Sunday morning services will give people another chance to hear this popular radio personality,” said Dwayne Norman, church pastor.

The ManUp Conference is sponsored by the Salem-Troy Baptist Association and other churches throughout the county. It is the realization of a dream that began about two years ago when Norman and 12 other men attended the Gridiron Men’s Conference in Tuscaloosa.

“Rick Burgess was the featured speaker and he is funny but he also has such a powerful and meaningful message,” Norman said. “We all came away from the conference dreaming and asking ourselves, why not have him in Troy?”

Thus was born the idea of the ManUp Conference. But the idea was bigger than Bush.

“The ManUp Conference is the result of many churches, many denominations coming together,” Norman said. “All 1,000 tickets have been sold but, with Rick speaking at Bush Sunday morning, more people will have the opportunity to hear his powerful message and it will be different from the one he delivers Saturday night.”

Norman said he was able to get Burgess to speak at Bush Memorial as a result of his being the featured speaker at the ManUp Conference.

“I thought that might be a possibility since he was probably going to stay overnight in Troy anyway,” Norman said.

“I contacted his agent and we got it worked out. Bush will pay the additional fee and everyone is invited and it is absolutely free. We just want as many people who will to come.”

Norman said the 9 a.m. service has been added so that members of other congregations may attend prior to their worship services.