When you start to plan an outdoor event a year in advance, you hope and pray for good weather. Without it,you're sure that people will not turn up and the British weather will make it a 'washout'. This was only one of the primary considerations when Yardley started planning what was first called 'Evangelism in the Park'. In 2009 Pastor Sayers and the church board at Yardley agreed to an idea proposed by Anolin Steven for each of the ministries in the church to showcase their work to the community, at a community venue. The Board agreed that this would allow the church to link with the local community in a fun and engaging way.

Local Government committees and permissions being what they are, it was a year later when Pastor Peter had retired and Yardley's new minister, Pastor Ramdin, together with the church board, brought the plans to fruition for what was renamed as a 'Community Fun Day'.

A Project Team was formed, led by Anolin Stevens, working alongside Richard Scott, Jackie Callam and Rosie Herron-Riley, who handled the mind-boggling paperwork involved in staging a large outdoor event that included: a heath tent, (including massage and blood pressure monitoring), bouncy castle, food and drinks tent, praise and worship programme, bring-and-buy stall, family life table, publishing table, ADRA stall, 5-a-side football, cricket, keep fit and an ice cream vendor. Oh yes, this was a major undertaking!

The church prayed for good weather and for good connections with our Muslim neighbours and community members. Publicity was placed in the park and in local shops, etc. On May 23rd God answered our prayers with scorching weather and an extremely successful day of community engagement. When we were setting everything up, it seemed as though every church member was involved in some way and an early morning jogger asked "what is the purpose of this event"? They received an inviting "it's a fun-day with lots of free events for your family. Go home and bring your kids."

Many people came. We found that children were attracted by the various activities and brought their parents along. Those older in age were curious about what was going on in their local park. Observing the day's events, Pastor Adam Ramdin said, “when you watch the way that the church and community interact together and what was appealing to those in the local area, one can’t help but notice how the concerns and desires of those in church are very similar to those outside: the need for community, fellowship, concern for personal health.” The whole church was encouraged by the response that was received from the community and one member stated that “Its not everyday that the church hosts an event that is attended by over hundreds of people where at least 75% of them are Muslim.” When was the last time that you saw young Asian men from the community spontaneously rapping in front of a mixed audience of friends, family community members with Adventist onlookers, to rapturous applause.

We acted on our belief that the church needs to reach out with a friendly hand to the community within which it resides; with the hope that those who see that outstretched hand are likely to shake it and happily receiving what it contains. On May 23rd, Yardley church members shook a lot of hands, in one way or another, and handed out books, leaflets, practical help as well as providing for people's immediate physical needs.

An independent observer estimated that approximately 500 people were present throughout the day. They took many things away with them and we pray that the most important achievement is for us to be seen as part of the community and not apart from our community. It is a bridge that we will continue to build upon, with outstretched hands, with the message of the miracle of salvation from our loving and soon coming Saviour.