Almost 200 people came out to Jackson City Park on Saturday for the third anual Praise in the Park.

Organizers said the free event with praise and worship teams from Jackson churches is a great way to achieve cooperation among churches.

"It is a community event designed to break the barriers of denomination," Kim Maschmeier said. Her husband, Russ, is credited with coming up with the concept of Praise in the Park.

"A goal at our church was community outreach, and Russ had this idea. He approached members of the praise team and we said, 'Let's do it,'" said Linda McKinney of First General Baptist Church.

The concert is funded through donations from the participating churches and money given at the event, she said. Donations are used to support future Praise in the Parks, but McKinney said the event keeps growing and that organizers would like to eventually be able to use the donations to support the Jackson Ministerial Alliance Food Bank.

Last year the event attracted 300 people.

This year's crowd included guests from as far away as St. Louis.

Paul Straedey of Jackson may not have traveled far to attend the concert but said he really enjoyed the music and what it represented.

"It's a pretty day, and there's a lot of good music," he said. "We like to listen to good Christian music. Freedom of religion is one of our greatest freedoms, and we should continue to support it or we could lose it."

In addition to musical performances from Immaculate Conception Church, First General Baptist Church, Bread of Life and Glorious Praise, there was a free barbecue, face painting and other activities at the event.

cbartholomew@semissourian.com

243-8600

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Jackson CIty Park, Jackson, MO