‘Praise in the Park’ returns to Jackson
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JACKSON, Tenn. — Praise in the Park is back for its second year in the Hub City, and organizers kicked off the monthlong celebration on Sunday. “You don’t want to miss the opportunity to have an encounter with God, and that’s the most important thing. It’s life changing,” Monique Merriweather said. Hundreds swarmed Shirley Mercer Park to attend what’s becoming one of Jackson’s fastest growing events. “People were saying we need to make this an annual event. So here we are, second year, and we are excited,” Merriweather said. It’s an event called Praise in the Park, which transforms parts of Jackson every Sunday in the month of October. “Today’s a good day to be outside. Even though it’s cold, we all come together to praise God,” Lekeven Yabrough said. Organizers said in its inaugural year, “Praise in the Park” brought more than 2,500 people to parks across Jackson. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you believe in, but instead it’s about community and loving one another. “We don’t see racial lines — we see brothers and sisters,” T.J. Gilliam said. “We just want to be in this community together, to make a difference together. It doesn’t matter what side of Jackson you are from. What matters is we truly care about one another.” And it’s something organizers said will continue to remind them what the word “community” is really about. “There are people that care,” Merriweather said. “We care about this community. We care about each other, to build relationships with one another that will carry on for a lifetime.” The remaining dates for “Praise in the Park” are (4 p.m. to 6 p.m.): – Oct. 11 at Liberty Gardens – Oct. 18 at Forrest Hills Park – Oct. 25 at Muse Park
