By Tracy Van Moorlehem
Bulletin Staff Writer
   When it comes to delivering the Good News, angels may have wings but So'journ has a driving beat and a bass guitar. These days, that's a clear advantage.
   "Our message is simple. We spread the message of Jesus Christ," said lead singer Todd Pearson of Tumalo. "The first song I ever wrote when I was 9 years old was for Jesus," he said.
  The local Christian rock band performed Saturday at "Praise in the Park", an informal inter-church gathering. A modest crowd turned out for the day-long event at Drake Park in Bend.
   John Peterson of Visions Ministries, the ecumenical group that sponsored the gathering, said that they planned the event to help tear down walls between local churches. "It's important to have ecumenical fellowship ... to find out that Christians in other churches are just like we are" Peterson said. "If we can get churches

to  pool  resources,   we can do a lot more in Central Oregon."
   Over 100 local performers, including a 30-piece choir from 1st Baptist Church in Bend, sang at the 12-hour event.
   A food concession stand, stocked with donated food from area businesses, satisfied stomachs while singers satisfied souls. Proceeds from the stand will benefit local Christian youth groups.
   The Cascade Praise Cathedral youth carried signs through the downtown twice during the day to tell people "Jesus lives," "Jesus loves you" and "Give Him a chance."
   Mary Hewitt, a gum-chewing, brace-wearing senior at Redmond Senior High, said that reactions varied.
   "Some people say, 'right on!" and some give you that look like, 'I'm sure.'"
   The group's youth pastor, Leo Bailey, said the marchers were trying to spread a message of hope.
    "If you look around Bend and Deschutes

County,  there  are a lot of people with no hope. We want to offer them some," he said. Bailey, clad in a t-shirt that said "Worship the best or die like the rest," led the young people in prayer before leading them downtown.
   Peterson said he was disappointed with the general turn-out. The audience ranged from 50 to 100 people most of the day.
   But he said Visions Ministries would kike to expand the festival to three days next year to accomodate those who volunteered to perform. "We had to turn people away," said Kathy Peterson, his wife.
   Visions Ministries is comprised of people from several churches in Central Oregon who "praise the Lord through music, theater and song," Peterson said. It offers technical and artistic consulting services to local churches.
   The design on festival t-shirts was a dove tearing down a brick wall. "Tearing down the walls of division. That's our mission," said John Peterson.