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May 30. 2012 11:24PM
Ashland man hopes Christian rock concert will bring community together
ASHLAND — A faith-based rock concert scheduled to take place at Ashland Ball Field is being planned by Message Outreach founder Jeff MacDonald.
The event, called Rock the Park, is set to take place at the field on Main Street near Route 3, exit 24, on Saturday, July 28, from noon to 10 p.m.
“This isn’t your typical rock concert,” MacDonald said.
The event will be free and is being held to bring people together, he said.
“These are all Christian bands. They are all coming for free because ... we are all united in our cause to unite the communities and get the church out of the four walls and show the people what we are about,” MacDonald said.
The eight bands — Beautiful Oblivion, Pax Romana, The Blacksmiths, One Less Lost, Eyes of Elisha, Sanctifire, True North and Delivered — hail from New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts.
Motivational speakers are also scheduled to talk in between sets.
MacDonald — who based his idea on Billy Graham’s Rock the Lakes, an annual Christian rock-concert series — was born and raised in Plymouth.
“My life changed when I was 22 years old and I met Jesus Christ and I gave my life to him, and it’s been an adventure ever since,” MacDonald said.
After his conversion, MacDonald, a carpenter by trade, began using his skills for those in need as part of his grassroots movement called Message Outreach.
While living in Attleboro, Mass., he expanded his outreach by recruiting people from many walks of life — including lawyers, dentists and teachers — who agreed to volunteer their own skills.
The group also organized small community events.
“We passed out free hotdogs in Main Street,” MacDonald said.
Two years ago, MacDonald moved back to New Hampshire, settling in Ashland, where he has already passed out hot chocolate and doughnuts on Main Street and organized a food drive for local food banks.
Rock the Park is one of many large community events MacDonald said he plans to create.
“I’m out to show, this is what a saved life really looks like, and how he used me to do great things,” he said.
Food vendors will be on site and band merchandise will be available for sale.
MacDonald is encouraging local churches and businesses to contact him about representing themselves at the event.
He added that while he is encouraging Christians to live their faith out in their communities, he is also encouraging any Christian not already part of a church to find and join one.
“I think a part of living that life is to be connected to a body,” he explained.
He is currently seeking volunteers and monetary donations to support Rock the Park.
When it comes to volunteering, MacDonald said, “What do you feel called to do? We want people to do things that are meaningful to them.”
MacDonald can be reached at (603) 937-0270.
The event, called Rock the Park, is set to take place at the field on Main Street near Route 3, exit 24, on Saturday, July 28, from noon to 10 p.m.
“This isn’t your typical rock concert,” MacDonald said.
The event will be free and is being held to bring people together, he said.
“These are all Christian bands. They are all coming for free because ... we are all united in our cause to unite the communities and get the church out of the four walls and show the people what we are about,” MacDonald said.
The eight bands — Beautiful Oblivion, Pax Romana, The Blacksmiths, One Less Lost, Eyes of Elisha, Sanctifire, True North and Delivered — hail from New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts.
Motivational speakers are also scheduled to talk in between sets.
MacDonald — who based his idea on Billy Graham’s Rock the Lakes, an annual Christian rock-concert series — was born and raised in Plymouth.
“My life changed when I was 22 years old and I met Jesus Christ and I gave my life to him, and it’s been an adventure ever since,” MacDonald said.
After his conversion, MacDonald, a carpenter by trade, began using his skills for those in need as part of his grassroots movement called Message Outreach.
While living in Attleboro, Mass., he expanded his outreach by recruiting people from many walks of life — including lawyers, dentists and teachers — who agreed to volunteer their own skills.
The group also organized small community events.
“We passed out free hotdogs in Main Street,” MacDonald said.
Two years ago, MacDonald moved back to New Hampshire, settling in Ashland, where he has already passed out hot chocolate and doughnuts on Main Street and organized a food drive for local food banks.
Rock the Park is one of many large community events MacDonald said he plans to create.
“I’m out to show, this is what a saved life really looks like, and how he used me to do great things,” he said.
Food vendors will be on site and band merchandise will be available for sale.
MacDonald is encouraging local churches and businesses to contact him about representing themselves at the event.
He added that while he is encouraging Christians to live their faith out in their communities, he is also encouraging any Christian not already part of a church to find and join one.
“I think a part of living that life is to be connected to a body,” he explained.
He is currently seeking volunteers and monetary donations to support Rock the Park.
When it comes to volunteering, MacDonald said, “What do you feel called to do? We want people to do things that are meaningful to them.”
MacDonald can be reached at (603) 937-0270.
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