The Johnson County community will have the chance to celebrate their faith and the creative spirit that comes with it during a unique event planned for mid-September.
A group of local residents have partnered with area churches to organize a gospel outreach in downtown Greenwood. Art, music, preaching and more comes together for an afternoon of fellowship and contemplation.
The event will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Greenwood Amphitheater. Organizers hope it is an opportunity to reach people who may be hurting, looking for hope or looking for a faith community to join.
“Even before the pandemic, church attendance was sliding throughout the United States. If I don’t go to church, it’s less likely that I’m going to hear about Jesus,” said Tony Arquilla, the main organizer of the event. “Then you see more and more things happening right here in our community. We need the Lord’s help.”
Arquilla is the engine behind the outreach. The Greenwood resident had noticed that the community used the amphitheater at Surina Square Park for a variety of events, from public concerts to live theater. Maybe he would be able to organize a gospel outreach, he thought.
Working with Greenwood Parks and Recreation, he was able to rent it for an afternoon in September.
“I decided that I would see if it was God’s idea or my idea, because I hadn’t ever done any kind of thing like this,” Arquilla said. “They had an open date, and I thought that a door was opening, so this might be God working.”
With a date in mind, Arquilla started reaching out to churches around the county. He contacted between 20 and 30, and started putting together a lineup.
The outreach will feature music, live art performances and gospel messages throughout the afternoon. Mt. Auburn Christian Church has organized a drama troupe to perform. First Baptist Church of Greenwood has committed to music and a message of gospel.
A guitarist and singer, James Quandt, is slated to perform and evangelize. Pastor Scott Phenis of Bengal Indiana Church in Shelby County has signed up to deliver a gospel message. Gospel performer David Pellegrini will play as well. Arguilla himself will play his harmonica.
Organizers invite anyone interested to bring a picnic blanket or chairs and listen for a little while.
”We need encouragement from each other. On my own, I’d fall away. So some kind of gathering is really important,” Arquilla said. “I’m hoping that my life changes, and it changes for others, too.”
