MWPR CLIENT│ The Park MinistriesPark Ministries plans eastside Fest
Free event at former Merchandise Mart will include entertainment, job bank and lots more.
Free event at former Merchandise Mart will include entertainment, job bank and lots more.
By Marty Minchin
Posted: Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009
Posted: Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009
The Park Ministries will celebrate its neighbors in east Charlotte next weekend with The Park Fest.
Three years ago, The Park Ministries – formerly University Park Baptist – bought the Charlotte Merchandise Mart on Briar Creek Road. The Park Fest will be on the property and will be an “opportunity to have the community and the church to come together for a day of fun, enjoyment and empowerment,” said church spokeswoman Monica Wood.
The Park Fest, from 10 a.m. to 6p.m. Saturday, will include everything from live entertainment to meet-and-greets with candidates for the Charlotte City Council and mayor.
Wood said the event was the vision of Bishop Claude Alexander Jr., senior pastor of The Park Ministries. It will “provide a tangible example of what The Park can and will offer to the members of the church and the residents of the Eastside community.”
The Park Ministries already has about 8,000 members who attend church at campuses on Beatties Ford Road and on Lancaster Highway in South Charlotte. The church plans to convert part of the 529,000-square-foot building on Briar Creek Road into a 100,000-square-foot sanctuary that could hold 5,000 people for each service.
“We are building a multi-faceted campus that not only meets the needs of our congregation but also the needs of the region, in terms of space for business development, conferences and performances,” Alexander said in a news release. “ … The Park will be able to significantly increase outreach to the community, expanding our more than 80 ministries to include more business, civic and youth development programs.”
The Park Fest will offer a taste of those ministries, providing a job bank and opportunities for people who come to be “informed, empowered and engaged in the areas of politics, economic development, education and employment” at the event, according to church information.
Ministries that are already going on in the area include job assistance and training, youth programs, a singles ministry and emergency assistance to people in need. The Park Ministries hopes to soon add civic, business and child development programs.
Ministries that are already going on in the area include job assistance and training, youth programs, a singles ministry and emergency assistance to people in need. The Park Ministries hopes to soon add civic, business and child development programs.
Event planning began several months ago, and teams of church members have organized it, Wood said.
The event is free and open to the community. The day will include shopping stalls with wares from local artisans and food for purchase.
Marty Minchin is a freelance writer.
0 comments:
Post a Comment