Lewiston Assembly of God hosts 'Worship in the Park,' featuring Brothers McClurg

Family-friendly celebration of faith, music & community

Lewiston Assembly of God invites the community to a soul-stirring, family-friendly outdoor event on Saturday, June 7. “Worship in the Park” will feature Brothers McClurg. Set in the heart of Lewiston’s scenic greenery, this free event promises to be a powerful evening of music, fellowship, and spiritual renewal. It’s open to all ages.

The festivities will kick off at 4:30 p.m. at Academy Park with a carnival of fun-filled games, activities, and fellowship for families. Kids and adults alike can enjoy classic lawn games, interactive stations, and plenty of space to relax, connect and enjoy the beauty of summer in Western New York.

As the sun begins to set, the stage will come alive with the sounds of worship at 7 p.m., led by Brothers McClurg, an acclaimed worship band known for a heartfelt, rootsy approach to worship, and a commitment to bringing communities together through music. Their style blends folk, rock and gospel influences, inviting audiences into a deeply personal and communal experience of praise. They will be followed by the worship team at Lewiston Assembly of God with moments for reflection, prayer and encouragement throughout the evening.

Brothers McClurg (Anthony and Chris Hoisington, Jeremy Thompson) once opened for Rebecca St. James at Artpark, working with other musicians in a band called Relevant Worship. They’ve gone on to become a valued part of the Christian music community, both nationally and across the country.

“Relevant Worship had the opportunity to sign with Integrity Music and they suggested we change the name because there was Relevant Magazine, which is a popular Christian publication; so, we had already been thinking about changing it,” Chris Hoisington said. “Brothers McClurg pays homage to (our) family’s name, who had been doing music ministry in the ’70s and onward, so it felt like the right time to change it.”

Brothers McClurg recently released “Bellsburg: The Songs of Rich Mullins” – a tribute album to the late Christian singer known for “Awesome God” – via their own imprint, Old Bear Records.

“We were just a fan of his music and were inspired, wondering, ‘What if we did a new version of his songs in a more stripped-down, acoustic fashion?” – and artists liked the idea,” Hoisington said. “A lot of Rich’s record have a ’90s CCM (contemporary Christian music) production style, and we wanted to do an acoustic, folky style of his songs. A lot of artists liked the idea, because it hasn’t really been done before, and it really showcases his lyrics and ability to tell a good story.”

“Bellsburg” was recorded in a place near and dear to Mullins.

“When his career had taken him to Nashville and he made it big, he decided to buy a house way outside of town that he could go and he would host friends and would do tons of ministry there,” Hoisington said of the place Brothers McClurg recorded in for this project. “He was known for having big birthday parties there, where a couple hundred people would show up. He owned it for a while, like a decade or so, and gave it off to the lady who lives in the house now (Connie). He gave her the house saying as long as she kept using it for ministry that she could have the house.”

Hoisington added, “She still lives in the house and she kept in a way that it still carries a lot of the vibe he left it with. She has done other things there to showcase his stuff. When we first started talking about this idea, a friend mentioned that his house is still there and that’s when we decided to contact Connie. We had a few different people reaching out to her and she was happy to let us come record the project.”

Several Christian artists joined on to the project, including Andrew Peterson, Ashley Cleveland, Jason Gray, Mitch McVicker and Amy Grant.

“A lot of them worked with Rich,” Hoisington said. “Amy Grant, her first hit was with a Rich Mullins song. We reached out to a lot of people who were around him at that time and toured with him, like Ashley Cleveland. Rich helped break out her career, and she toured with him and Carolyn Arends, who is also on the record. He had loose affiliation with people like Sara Groves and others who were inspired by him, but not everyone on the records were friends with him when he was alive. But he has influenced a lot of people, so a lot of people on the Christian scene revere him as one of the best. Mitch McVicker was on the record, who was in the car with him when he passed. There were a bunch of different artists that were impacted by him.”

Brothers McClurg has a relationship with Lewiston Assembly of God, “and we have done concerts there in the past,” Hoisington said. “We did a Christmas concert there a while back. They do this event every year for the community, and they asked us if we could come help them with the event.”

“Worship in the Park” attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair, a picnic blanket, or simply come ready to stand, dance and celebrate. This is more than a concert – it’s an invitation to join voices with neighbors, friends and family in a powerful expression of hope and unity.

“This is about bringing the light of Jesus into the heart of our community,” said Pastor Geordie Davey of Lewiston Assembly of God. “We’re thrilled to welcome Brothers McClurg and to offer a space where people can gather, worship and be uplifted – whether they’ve been part of our church for years or are just curious to see what this is all about”

“Worship in the Park” is part of Lewiston Assembly’s ongoing commitment to community outreach, creating spaces where people can encounter the love of God in real and meaningful ways. Admission is free and all are welcome. Rain or shine, the team is ready to celebrate with you.

For more information, visit www.lewistonassembly.org or follow Lewiston Assembly of God on Facebook and Instagram for updates and event details.