THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 4, 1994 TAG: 9407040059
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARK O'KEEFE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Harbor Park hummed with evangelical enthusiasm, red-white-and-blue patriotism and the country music of Ricky Skaggs as 6,000 people attended First Baptist Church's ``Let Freedom Sing'' celebration Sunday morning.
The event was an attempt by the state's largest Southern Baptist congregation to find a larger audience for its Christian message. Organizers said they were encouraged by the crowd, which was about double the number that normally attend their Sunday services.
Many came to hear Skaggs, the country and western star who flew into Norfolk at 5 a.m. after performing at a similar function in Kentucky Saturday night.
Dressed in black and standing in the beating sun on a stage at home plate, Skaggs preached as much as he sang to a half-full stadium.
He got the crowd clapping with songs like ``Saviour, Save Me From Myself'' and ``It's Time for Revival.''
In introducing the latter song, he said he looked forward to the day when CNN announces ``all sports events are canceled due to the extreme amount of people studying the word of God.''
A father of four, Skaggs encouraged people to stop blaming their parents for their problems. Along with the Rev. Robert Reccord, First Baptist's pastor, Skaggs also asked Christians to work for racial harmony.
``The body of Christ has got to repent for the sins of racial segregation,'' Skaggs told the nearly all-white crowd.
The crowd came to its feet as Skaggs sang ``The Star Spangled Banner'' with a country twang as First Baptist's orchestra and 200-voice choir provided accompaniment.
The theme of the two-hour service was that national and individual freedom is found in God. In a sermon, Reccord asked people to bow their heads and make a ``declaration of dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ.''
Skaggs reinforced the theme when he said, ``I want people to see Christ. I want people to see Jesus in me. I've got a long way to go, but I'm glad to be a Christian.''
Amanda Wirth, 13, was beaming after the service because her musical hero ``was coming out and letting people know about the word of God.'' A member of First Baptist, Wirth said her sister's boyfriend attended because Skaggs was there.
On Tuesday night, 200 First Baptist members will conduct a ``firecracker followup'' in which they will make telephone calls and write letters to those who filled out a registration card at the stadium Sunday.
``I think there are a lot of people here who wouldn't go to a traditional service,'' said the Rev. Tommy Teague, senior associate pastor at First Baptist. ``This is a nonthreatening environment. The church of the 21st century has to get out from the confines of the walls of the church and go where people are.
``We're going to take aggressive steps to do more things of this nature.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Ricky Skaggs
PHOTOS BY BILL TIERNAN, Staff
Thousands gather at Harbor Park in Norfolk for First Baptist
Church's ``Let Freedom Sing'' program. With the July sun beating
down on the worshipers, Helmut Speckheuer, right, folds his program
to create a bit of shade.
In foreground, Kimberley Powers of Chesapeake, Kathy James of
Virginia Beach and Shelia Carter of Norfolk sing out during Sunday's
``Let Freedom Sing'' event. The women are all members of the choir
of First Baptist Church.
by CNB