7 Sep 2026, 23:19Elder Kenroy and Sister Eileen McKenzieNewtown, Powys, Wales, United Kingdom
Gospel in the Park - 21st June
Gospel in the Park
Gospel in the Park – 21 June
On 21 June, Family Ministries, in conjunction with Newtown Church and supported by Personal Ministries as part of the Reflecting Hope initiative, held the third annual Gospel in the Park event in Newtown.
This year, we decided to hold the event on a Sunday rather than on a Sabbath afternoon, which gave us greater flexibility and allowed us to engage more freely with the wider community.
Community Stalls and Activities
Marquees were set up and a number of stalls and activities were available throughout the event, providing opportunities for the public to interact with church members and experience practical expressions of community and fellowship. These included:
Children’s Ministries, led by Jane Wells.
Crafts for sale, provided by Norma Dockery from Wolverhampton.
Hair braiding and balloons, led by Eileen McKenzie.
Soup Kitchen, led by Shepherd and Sarah Mwamuka.
Smoothie Bike, led by Kizuwanda Lawrence and the Newtown Pathfinder Club.
We also received tremendous support from Open Newtown, as well as the necessary permissions and cooperation from Powys County Council.
This year, Gospel in the Park coincided with Father’s Day. We initially felt that this might reduce attendance, as families could have had other commitments. However, the Hafen Y Afon building was hosting a special Father’s Day lunch, which resulted in significant foot traffic through the area and gave us an excellent opportunity to connect with members of the public.
Support from the Mayor and Deputy Mayor
We were privileged to welcome the Town Mayor, Councillor Margaret Lewington, and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Rupert Taylor.
The Mayor spoke words of encouragement and acknowledged the work that we are doing in the Newtown community. She took time to visit the various stalls, engage with those involved and participate in the activities, including having a go on the smoothie bike.
We were grateful for their presence and support, which helped to demonstrate the positive relationship that is developing between the church and the wider Newtown community.
Gospel Music
The music was the main feature of the event and provided a powerful opportunity to share the Gospel through music and worship.
Pastor Anton Botha opened the programme with prayer. The PA system was provided by Karl Foster from Birmingham. We were also supported by musician Joshua Forbes from Telford on piano and a guitarist. Our compère for the programme was Hezron Ottey from Telford Church.
Musical items were presented by:
Newtown Praise Team
Annouska Sammy
Kenneth Greenwich
The Messengers
Jenna Rose
Yvonne Lee from Wolverhampton
Marie Jones from West Bromwich
Micaiah Forbes from Telford Church
The Gospel music was particularly well received by members of the public. Many people expressed how much they enjoyed the music and how it touched, encouraged and inspired them. The music created an atmosphere where people could pause, listen and engage with the message of the Gospel in a relaxed community setting.
Engagement with the Community
The weather was beautiful, and we were delighted to see members of the public attending for the third consecutive year. Many expressed how much they were enjoying the programme and appreciated the opportunity to spend time in the park while experiencing the music, food and activities.
The event also provided valuable opportunities for us to mingle with and get to know members of the community, particularly as we celebrated Father’s Day together. Children could be seen walking around the park with balloons that had been provided by the team, adding to the joyful and welcoming atmosphere.
One particularly meaningful encounter was with a gentleman who was experiencing a number of difficulties in his life. During our conversation, he shared that he believed God had brought him to the park for a reason. I was able to pray with him, and the conversation became a significant opportunity to listen, encourage him and minister to his needs.
Overall Outcome
The programme was very well received and provided an excellent opportunity to engage with the people of Newtown. Overall, the event went extremely well, with the beautiful weather contributing to a positive and welcoming atmosphere.
The soup and smoothies were very well received, and the engagement with the public was excellent. The combination of practical service, community interaction and Gospel music allowed us to demonstrate God's love in a meaningful and accessible way.
The public were deeply touched, encouraged and inspired by the Gospel music. Many people expressed how much they enjoyed the programme and spoke positively about the impact it had on them. We were also encouraged by members of the public asking us to return and hold the event again next year.
We give thanks to God for the success of the third Gospel in the Park and for everyone who contributed through their time, talents, resources and prayers. By God's grace, we hope to build on this year's success, strengthen our relationships within the Newtown community and extend the programme even further next year.
Gospel in the Park
Gospel in the Park – 21 June
On 21 June, Family Ministries, in conjunction with Newtown Church and supported by Personal Ministries as part of the Reflecting Hope initiative, held the third annual Gospel in the Park event in Newtown.
This year, we decided to hold the event on a Sunday rather than on a Sabbath afternoon, which gave us greater flexibility and allowed us to engage more freely with the wider community.
Community Stalls and Activities
Marquees were set up and a number of stalls and activities were available throughout the event, providing opportunities for the public to interact with church members and experience practical expressions of community and fellowship. These included:
Children’s Ministries, led by Jane Wells.
Crafts for sale, provided by Norma Dockery from Wolverhampton.
Hair braiding and balloons, led by Eileen McKenzie.
Soup Kitchen, led by Shepherd and Sarah Mwamuka.
Smoothie Bike, led by Kizuwanda Lawrence and the Newtown Pathfinder Club.
We also received tremendous support from Open Newtown, as well as the necessary permissions and cooperation from Powys County Council.
This year, Gospel in the Park coincided with Father’s Day. We initially felt that this might reduce attendance, as families could have had other commitments. However, the Hafen Y Afon building was hosting a special Father’s Day lunch, which resulted in significant foot traffic through the area and gave us an excellent opportunity to connect with members of the public.
Support from the Mayor and Deputy Mayor
We were privileged to welcome the Town Mayor, Councillor Margaret Lewington, and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Rupert Taylor.
The Mayor spoke words of encouragement and acknowledged the work that we are doing in the Newtown community. She took time to visit the various stalls, engage with those involved and participate in the activities, including having a go on the smoothie bike.
We were grateful for their presence and support, which helped to demonstrate the positive relationship that is developing between the church and the wider Newtown community.
Gospel Music
The music was the main feature of the event and provided a powerful opportunity to share the Gospel through music and worship.
Pastor Anton Botha opened the programme with prayer. The PA system was provided by Karl Foster from Birmingham. We were also supported by musician Joshua Forbes from Telford on piano and a guitarist. Our compère for the programme was Hezron Ottey from Telford Church.
Musical items were presented by:
Newtown Praise Team
Annouska Sammy
Kenneth Greenwich
The Messengers
Jenna Rose
Yvonne Lee from Wolverhampton
Marie Jones from West Bromwich
Micaiah Forbes from Telford Church
The Gospel music was particularly well received by members of the public. Many people expressed how much they enjoyed the music and how it touched, encouraged and inspired them. The music created an atmosphere where people could pause, listen and engage with the message of the Gospel in a relaxed community setting.
Engagement with the Community
The weather was beautiful, and we were delighted to see members of the public attending for the third consecutive year. Many expressed how much they were enjoying the programme and appreciated the opportunity to spend time in the park while experiencing the music, food and activities.
The event also provided valuable opportunities for us to mingle with and get to know members of the community, particularly as we celebrated Father’s Day together. Children could be seen walking around the park with balloons that had been provided by the team, adding to the joyful and welcoming atmosphere.
One particularly meaningful encounter was with a gentleman who was experiencing a number of difficulties in his life. During our conversation, he shared that he believed God had brought him to the park for a reason. I was able to pray with him, and the conversation became a significant opportunity to listen, encourage him and minister to his needs.
Overall Outcome
The programme was very well received and provided an excellent opportunity to engage with the people of Newtown. Overall, the event went extremely well, with the beautiful weather contributing to a positive and welcoming atmosphere.
The soup and smoothies were very well received, and the engagement with the public was excellent. The combination of practical service, community interaction and Gospel music allowed us to demonstrate God's love in a meaningful and accessible way.
The public were deeply touched, encouraged and inspired by the Gospel music. Many people expressed how much they enjoyed the programme and spoke positively about the impact it had on them. We were also encouraged by members of the public asking us to return and hold the event again next year.
We give thanks to God for the success of the third Gospel in the Park and for everyone who contributed through their time, talents, resources and prayers. By God's grace, we hope to build on this year's success, strengthen our relationships within the Newtown community and extend the programme even further next year.
