THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 30, 1994 TAG: 9406300568
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARK O'KEEFE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940630 LENGTH: NORFOLK
``Let Freedom Sing'' is an effort by First Baptist Church of Norfolk to ``get us outside the walls of the church'' and into the community, said Tommy Teague, senior associate pastor.
{REST} The free, two-hour event begins at 10 a.m. and will include 35 minutes of songs from Skaggs. A highlight will be a Skaggs' rendition of ``The Star Spangled Banner.'' He will be accompanied by First Baptist's orchestra and 200-voice choir.
Inspirational messages will be given by the Rev. Robert Reccord, First Baptist's pastor; Terry Meeuwsen, co-host of the Christian Broadcasting Network's ``700 Club''; and Dick Abel, a retired Air Force brigadier general who heads the Military Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ International.
``We did a lot of research,'' Teague said. ``There was nothing really happening on July 3 that was really set apart to celebrate our heritage as a nation and our freedom in Christ. We'd like this to become a tradition to draw the community together.''
The intent, Teague said, is to draw people who see a baseball stadium as ``a less threatening environment'' than a church. ``Our goal is not to attract churched people but what we call the pre-Christian and unchurched.''
Those in attendance will receive information on First Baptist, the state's largest Southern Baptist congregation. It has 6,500 members and averages 3,500 people at its three Sunday services at 312 Kempsville Road. The only area church that attracts more is St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Virginia Beach, which routinely draws more than 6,000 every weekend.
Sunday services at First Baptist are canceled in favor of the event at Harbor Park. The stadium has a seating capacity of 12,057 and organizers said they are optimistic they can fill it.
Teague said the city of Norfolk, which owns Harbor Park, is not charging rent and is only requiring First Baptist to pay for such things as parking attendants and police.
Skaggs, an evangelical Christian, is appearing for ``way below'' his normal fee, Teague said. The total cost of the event will be about $22,000, and much of that is for radio and television advertising. Corporate sponsors have donated $10,000, Teague said.
``There is a high degree of interest in this event from the business and secular community,'' Teague said. ``They think it's highly unusual for a church to grab for something this big. They're enamored.''
by CNB