A crowd gathered around the Woodlawn Regional Park Boundary Dam stage last night for an evening of worship, music, and celebration during the summer edition of Raise a Hallelujah.
The outdoor event, organized by a collective of local churches, has become a seasonal tradition in Estevan, bringing together people of all backgrounds to worship as one.
"Raise a Hallelujah, which runs every two or three months, is an opportunity for all the churches to come together and to worship together," said Adrian Alberto Viera de la Torre, a pastor with Living Hope Community Church. "All the different communities come together and become one church, which is part of what we believe."
This was the fourth year the event was held at the park, and the second year Viera de la Torre has taken part since moving to the community.
Along with worship music from local teams, the evening featured baptisms, adding a deeply spiritual highlight to the night.
"We had eight people that got baptized," he shared. "Five were planned and then three were just spontaneous. They heard from the Lord and felt compelled to step in obedience."
Organizers also expressed gratitude toward Woodlawn Regional Park for their ongoing support.
"They now know us, and so they've been letting us come in for free in the evenings," said Viera de la Torre. "They've been really cool about letting us borrow their space and their stage. It’s been a really huge blessing to be able to partner with the park."
The event welcomed people from all walks of life, whether or not they were part of a church.
"Come, and if you're not a Christian or if you are a Christian, come and see what it's about, because you might see some amazing things and I wouldn't want you to miss out," he added.
With faith, community, and celebration on full display, the evening left a lasting impression on those in attendance.