PHOTOS BY JOHN FRYMAN/THE VILLAGE REPORTER
SINGING PRAISES … From left, Althea Spangler, Kenna Chaffins, and Alli Wagner enjoyed an uplifting experience at the Bryan Ministerial Association outdoor worship service Sunday night at the Bryan Amphitheater.
GUEST PERFORMER … Tim Warner (with guitar) was the special guest with the Bridging The Gap Band at the Bryan Ministerial Association outdoor worship service at the Bryan Amphitheater.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
It was a beautiful Sunday evening to celebrate outdoor worship at the Bryan Amphitheater. Sponsored by the Bryan Area Ministerial Association, the Bridging The Gap Praise Band of Stryker performed for nearly an hour and a half with a number of Christian-based songs.
“We’re going to praise the Lord together,” said vocalist Andrea Northrup as she opened the event with a prayer thanking Jesus for gathering with all the people that evening. “We all here for you, everything about tonight is for you. We all, in one body in Christ, so thank you.”
Wearing “Faith Over Fear,” T-shirts, the band featured Northrup and McKenna Carter (vocals), Susan Carter (keyboards), Chuck Mast (bass guitar), Eli Konoff (guitar), Dave Shufelt (percussion), Jaden Hootman (keyboards), and Jason Miller (bass guitar).
Also performing was Tim Warner, a special guest vocalist. “I think anytime you can get out and be the life and the love of Jesus Christ it’s very important,” said Warner.
Senior Pastor Ryan Carter commented about the opportunity to get together in an outdoor setting. “It’s amazing and whenever we get the opportunity to come together as the Body of Christ,” said Carter.
“To have many churches come together and worship together, I think it’s not only good for the churches, but it’s good for the community.”
Carter stressed the importance of the outreach ministry in the non-denominational church. “It’s the most important thing we can do,” he said.
“We’re commissioned to go out in the world. So, when we get the opportunity to go out and worship our Lord and Savior, and for all everybody to hear, it’s the most important thing we can do today.”
Bridging The Gap Church has been in existence for the last eight years, as they will be celebrating their anniversary this month.
It was an uplifting experience for those who were in attendance, something that Carter was pleased with.
“A lot of these people, we have no idea who they are, and they come out and just seeing them raising their hands and worship together,” said Carter. “It just reminds me that this is what Jesus did when he died on the cross to bring us all together.”
“So, it was an awesome feeling. I’m proud of the worship team and proud of the people in the community for coming out and wanting to worship together. This really shows Williams County what Christianity is really about.”