Local Church Celebrates ‘Praise Beyond The Walls’ Festival

Since 2014, Bethlehem Star Church has been serving the community with an event they call Praise Beyond the Walls.  

“It’s an epic outreach event where we minister to the whole entire community,” said Danielle Payne-Adams, Executive leader for special events for the church.  

The concept of the four-day festival is to meet the community outside the church walls in a non-threatening fun environment.  

“Remove the intimidation of the church, remove the order of the church, the rules of the church, how things work inside the building, get outside, meet the people where they are,” said Rodney Payne, Pastor of Bethlehem Star Baptist Church. 

It’s a series of free events starting with an individual personal development workshop. 

“Once we get your resume written, we’ll print it for you here on site, then we’re going to use our partner dress for success to put you in interview clothes then go directly into a job fair where you can get hired on site,” said Pastor Payne.  

And that’s just the start of four days of free events.  

“Friday, we have our leadership conference in the morning, and in the evening, we’ll have a movie under the stars, Saturday is our big backpack give away, where we’re giving away five hundred backpacks,” said Payne-Adams.  

Backpacks will be given first come first serve on Saturday, with plenty of good music, a comedy show, food trucks and vendor tents.  

“We have about twenty vendors, from all over Oklahoma City coming. We’re doing health checks, we’re doing behavioral analysis, partnering with Mary Mahoney,” said Payne-Adams.  

On Sunday, the church will celebrate with law enforcement and first responders. 

“We bring them and invite them to be with us. They mingle and sit amongst the congregation; they don’t have a special section they don’t have a special speech they just hang out with us the kids take photos and we let out law enforcement and first responders know that we love and appreciate them,” said Payne.  

The church says this is a family event with plenty of games and fun for the kids, and of course lots of free water. 

The fun starts Thursday, August 11 and goes through Sunday, August 14. For more information and specific event time visit www.praisebeyondthewalls.org