1st display was so popular, New Life is doing it again
CLINTON TWP — Once again, New Life Christian Ministries, 139 Knoch Road, will kick off July Fourth festivities early with a free fireworks show at the church Monday.
The nondenominational church staged a fireworks display last year on July 3 as part of its 15th anniversary celebration, said Chris Marshall, lead pastor at New Life. In addition to a picnic and an outdoor worship service, the church decided to stage a fireworks show.
“The ideas was we wanted to do something for the whole community. Saxonburg traditionally does not hold Independence Day fireworks,” Marshall said.
Bill Gillespie, mayor of Saxonburg, agreed.
“We do not have a budget for fireworks. We do not do fireworks,” he said.
“It's never really been part of the discussion since I've been on the council or been mayor and that is going back 22, 24 years,” Gillespie said.
Absence apparently did make the heart grow fonder because the crowd that gathered to watch last year was reportedly huge.
Marshall said, “We had 300 cars in the lot last year. We had 1,000 people on the property.
“People were watching from Knoch High School, a mile and a half away. People were watching from Victory Road (to the west of the church). I would expect more this year,” he said.
Brad French, the worship arts pastor, said, “We had people coming in from a 45-minute loop around Saxonburg.”
“It went so well we decided to do it again this year,” said Marshall. “It's probably going to be an annual event. We really want to bless the community.”
Marshall said of this year's fireworks show, “It's totally free, and we are going to give out water, popcorn and a surprise for the children.”
There are two reasons New Life decided to keep its fireworks night on the day before the Fourth of July.“We realized last year that July 4th was a day off for everybody, so they could sleep in,” Marshall said.And, he added, “We wanted a good fireworks company, and it's hard to get a good fireworks company because they are all tied up on the Fourth.”The church is bringing back last year's provider, Glory on High Fireworks of Templeton.Marshall said, “A member of our church used him for family fireworks. We didn't know anybody else, but we were very, very pleased with the results. “Ken Traister is the owner of the family-owned and operated fireworks company that provides illumination for weddings, anniversaries, graduations and holidays.Traister said he and at least three other people will be executing the fireworks show.“We will be using mortars and multishot cakes to create multiple effects,” Traister said.He added, “I just enjoy doing it and give God the glory. That's why the company is called Glory on High.”Marshall said the fireworks will be set up in woods on the 20-acre church property at least 600 feet from the nearest people.French said “The audience can gather in the fieled on the west side of the (church) building on the northwest side of the property.”French said, “We are renting DJ equipment. We will be playing music before and after the fireworks. It will be a mix of contemporary and oldies, and some patriotic songs.”Marshall said the church parking lot will open at 8 p.m. Monday with the show expected to begin shortly after dusk around 9:20 p.m.Barry Leicher, the executive pastor at New Life, said the Saxonburg Fire Department will be present.“We will have a parking team and a refreshment team and we do have security,” Leicher said.Marshall said alcoholic beverages and drugs are banned from the church property.
There will be church volunteers just walking around telling people where to to find things, Leicher said.The church is paying for the show and will not be asking for donations,The show is expected to run about 18 minutes.Marshall said the church parking lot can hold nearly 300 vehicles, so people should arrive in plenty of time to find parking and seating.Marshall said, “It's a celebration of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. If you put them together, it seems that a celebration like this honors God and reminds us of the freedoms that we have. ““We want the people of the community to understand that we are here to serve them, obviously in Jesus' name, and we assume something of this nature will bring good will in the community,” said Marshall.Marshall said, “The whole community can come together to do a wholesome activity.”
In addition to Monday’s display at New Life Christian Ministries, Fourth of July fireworks shows on Tuesday include:• Mars will have a fireworks show at dusk• There will be a fireworks show after the Butler BlueSox baseball game at Kelly Automotive Park• The Big Butler Fair will have a fireworks display at dusk at the fairgrounds, 1127 New Castle Road• There will be a fireworks display at dusk at Zelienople Community Park, 402 E. Beaver St.
