Held in the gazebo at Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton every Tuesday evening during July and August, “Praise in the Park” has brought eight free Christian concerts to the community. Local bands provided the music and church members sold hot dogs and soft drinks to cover expenses. The youth minister led children's crafts and games and the first year the concerts drew approximately 300 people each week.
Its second year featured a Kick-off Sunday on July 4, 2004, an all-day event of music, ministry, witnessing and food, held just prior to the start of the concert season. Kick-off Sunday ended with a concert by The Crabb Family and the one-day event was attended by approximately 1,500 people.
“Praise in the Park,” an outreach effort of Linden Heights Baptist Church and the Augusta Baptist Association, is now an annual event and in its third year.
Linden Heights was happy to bring The Isaacs as headliners for Kick-off Sunday on June 26, 2005. The Coachmen of Staunton were the lead-in band for the second year. Several members of Linden Heights are members of the group.
The members of Linden Heights Baptist Church feel blessed to have the opportunity to touch their neighbors with this ministry. The financial support of the Augusta Baptist Association, other area churches, businesses and individuals make this large, ongoing interdenominational ministry in the Shenandoah Valley possible.
The kick-off for “Praise in the Park” for 2006 is Sunday, July 9 from 3:00-9:00 p.m. The Coachmen of Staunton and Grammy-nominated, six-time Dove Award winning vocal group, The Martins, will be two of the performing groups. The event will continue every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. through August.