A community united in worship and fellowship
Downtown Rayville became a place of unity, celebration and faith last Wednesday as nearly 200 people gathered for Praise in the Park, a communitywide event centered on worship, fellowship, and gratitude.
Organized by Chelsea Higginbotham, owner of Equipt Christian Boutique, and Kasey Thompson, founder of the Bryn and Harrison Thompson Memorial Foundation, the event brought together people from different backgrounds and denominations to share in a night of encouragement and praise.
Live music filled the air, provided by talented performers D.J. Grissom, Jon Brakefield, Jess Horne, and Chris Winstead. Attendees enjoyed free food from First Baptist Church Rayville and Flippin’ Flavors, indulging in shaved ice, hot dogs, nachos, chips and bottled water as they connected with neighbors and friends.
Local pastors also took part in the gathering, welcoming attendees and inviting them to worship at their churches.
Among them were Aaron Carpenter of Rayville Methodist Church, Jeff Thomas of Start Baptist, Charles Ellzey of Woodlawn Baptist, Gage Conleay of Harmony Baptist Delhi, and Justin Clark of First Baptist Rayville. Their presence reflected the greater message of the event—that faith is not confined to church walls but lived out in the community.
Higginbotham expressed the significance of the gathering, saying, “We saw a need for everyone to get together in the community. We are not meant to be separated. We are called to be together. And this turnout is so exciting. It’s bigger than we ever expected.”
Her words echoed the heart of the event, which was summed up by Thompson: “Our goal tonight is about gathering together as a community regardless of denomination to praise our good and awesome God. We serve a mighty God. We serve a good God. He called us not just to go to church but to be the church. I love that we can gather together and worship and praise Him not just in times of tragedy but on a beautiful evening like this.”
The generosity of the Bryn and Harrison Thompson Memorial Foundation helped make the night even more special by donating all of the food, ensuring that every guest was able to partake in the evening free of charge. The foundation, dedicated to supporting families facing severe illness or loss, continues to be a beacon of hope and giving in the community.
Reflecting on the night, Higginbotham shared her joy, saying, “We’re so grateful for joyful fellowship, good flavors, and most of all, the presence of God moving in our community. All glory to Him!”
She also emphasized a lesson learned through organizing the event — “Something I learned recently was the first time God talked about something being not good. He said it’s not good to be alone. We are called to be together. In order to be a community the right way, we have to have a relationship with our Father. The way that we do that is by reading His word and understanding how big, powerful, and real He is. He changes us and makes us want to love others.”
The evening was not only a time of worship but of encouragement — of pastors leading with humility, of musicians using their talents to glorify God, and of an entire community coming together as one.
With such a successful first event, many are hopeful that Praise in the Park will become a treasured tradition in Richland Parish, inspiring even more gatherings that strengthen faith, fellowship, and the bonds of a loving community.
