A multitude enjoy this year’s Lents ‘Day in the Park’

Take a look and you’ll find out how this uplifting family celebration, again held in Lents Park, both inspired and entertained people from all over outer East Portland …

Lents Park was again the venue for the free family event, ‘Day in the Park’, this summer.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

After taking a year off, the all-free Day in the Park returned to Lents Park on Sunday afternoon, August 31. Musical performances on their tall main stage filled the park with music. Around the park were booths and specific areas set up for games and activities. And, there was food – lots of food!

Organizer Alpha Hayward welcomes guests coming into the celebration.

“We first started the ‘Day in the Park’ on Labor Day of 2009,” recalled the organizer, Alpha Hayward, pastor of Revolution Church – located nearby, on the boundary between the Powellhurst-Gilbert and Pleasant Valley neighborhoods.

“We started, and continue to put on, this event because we – both our church and our partner churches – believe in being in the community, and being a blessing for our neighbors,” Hayward explained. “We don’t only want to share the Gospel, but also be the Gospel.”

Offering drawing tickets are volunteers Cindee Carson and Salli Miner with Revolution Church.

An active event this year is their “One on One Basketball Tournament”.

Performing on-stage is Eric Pitts.

“Many people came here today; our volunteers estimate the attendance at more than 1,500,” Hayward told East Portland News afterwards. “And, we served 1,000 hot dogs, lots of tacos, and more cotton candy than could be counted!

“Looking back, what stays with me is that even though it was a large public gathering, it was peaceful – and there were so many smiles!”

Here giving away school supplies with her granddaughter, Mya Joy, is Shawn Edlund – a volunteer from Revolution Church.

Another volunteer from Revolution Church, is grilling some of the 1,000 hot dogs served at the celebration, here’s Fred Hammond.

Painting faces at the festival, we found volunteer Kim.

And, a volunteer from Adonai Church was Rabbito, here twisting balloon characters.

“The feedback was positive from all of the participating churches that united today to serve God and serve others at this celebration,” he said.

The celebration was hosted by more than 120 volunteers, from these many churches, organizations, and companies:

Global Network of Evangelists ~ Compassion to Action
CityTakers ~ Child Evangelism Fellowship
Teen Challenge ~ Alive Church ~ Adonai Church
Revolution Church ~ Chehalem Valley Church
Metro Drywall ~ Pinnacle Investments
The Father’s Heart ~ Tim Jackson Real Estate
Ryan Austin Designs ~ Shekinah Marketing

Revolution Church is located at 13047 SE Ramona Street, 97236. For more information, see their official website: CLICK HERE.

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