By Alexandria Leatherberry
The Truth Reporter
The Fifth Third stadium is known for being the home to the Toledo Mud Hens, but on Sunday, August 17, it became a house of praise for a 1000-person choir for Faith in the Stadium. Performers and attendees gathered as one in the stands to join in a joyful evening of worship with song, prayer and fellowship. Further igniting the ‘Holy Toledo’ presence that is translating into the popular Midwest festival season.
The idea for Faith in the Stadium, was “birthed out of a lunch with pastors,” said Bishop Pat McKinstry, pastor of The Worship Center and author of publications such as “Pastors: We Still Need Them. “
Bishop Mckinstry takes ministry into advocacy. Faith in The Stadium was a result of her call to action for the faith community to “come together and demonstrate.” The demonstration followed the proceeding Mud Hens vs. Clippers game, drawing those that came for the game to stay past the ninth inning to be a part of the congregation of the attendees for the faith celebration.
Bishop McKinstry recalls that during her discussions with various church leaders, many of them envisioned a grand event in a large setting such as the Fifth Third Field stadium. An echo of worship celebration in a concert atmosphere that has been successful in Toledo previously. This time, every performer sang as one signified and unified in all white alongside attendees, a visual ode to the scripture Romans 12:5, “So in Christ we who are many are one body.”
Approximately 200 pastors were involved in the project, from locations such as Detroit, Sandusky, Elyria, Lorain, Cleveland and Fremont. Those different churches brought together a choir of singers from a wide variety of denominations. Ohio has seen the growth of Evangelical and Pentecostal congregations and has also been home to a strong number of Catholic, Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian worship groups.
Bishop McKinstry was supported in organizing the event from music leaders – Mark Williams, DMin; Chris Byrd and Brian Thomas, who held four rehearsals, every other week, until the event. Bishop T. J. Thomas , Rev. Willie Perryman, Yuseff Woods and Rev. Chaz Boes led the Faith in the Stadium prayer and co-hosted the music celebration. “Everyone had a different role to play,” stated McKinstry. They each worked together to create the massive choir and bring together a final Sunday praise.
While this was the first such event, this will certainly not be the last Faith in the Stadium, according to McKinstry. A part of the growing experiences being hosted in Toledo for positive community engagement, Faith in the Stadium is a milestone mark to the potential of faith-based gatherings. A group of pastors will be meeting soon to determine what the next step might be in their effort to bring people together and demonstrate their faith.