Neighbor News
First Sarasota Church welcomes thousands during Good Friday event
Free, community-wide event, 'Good Friday in Payne Park,' featured football star Tim Tebow, Good Friday service, Easter egg hunt, food, live
On Good Friday, First Sarasota – The Downtown Baptist Church presented its second annual “Good Friday in Payne Park” event. The program included an inspirational Good Friday service featuring special guest Tim Tebow, free food, a massive Easter egg hunt (with 40,000 eggs), large inflatables and face painting for the kids, live music, a wandering Easter Bunny, and more.
This year’s event drew nearly 5,000 people to Payne Park to take part in the festivities.
“Thanks to connections made by mutual friends, we were grateful to be able to engage and welcome Tim as our special guest this year,” said Senior Pastor Dr. John Cross. “Not only were we able to share Easter's message of God's love with the community, we were able to enjoy family-friendly fun and make memories together. We are excited to begin planning for next year’s event!”
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Tebow may be best-known for his athletic achievements – he was a two-time college national champion, Heisman Trophy winner, College Football Hall of Fame inductee, first-round NFL draft pick, and a former professional baseball player – but he is most passionate about his current work with the Tim Tebow Foundation, whose mission is to bring faith, hope, and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need.
During the Good Friday event, Tebow spoke about his faith and the significance of Good Friday. People were fully engaged as he shared his heart and passion for the Lord and how it’s made a significant impact on him. Following his message, many came forward to make faith decisions. Some were even baptized that night!
Find out what's happening in Sarasotafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
For more information about First Sarasota, visit firstsarasota.org.
About First Sarasota
First Sarasota is a legacy church in downtown Sarasota founded in 1902. The heartbeat of the church has always been to be a multi-cultural and multi-generational church serving the community. It is a place where people of all ages can learn what it means to follow Jesus and have a relationship with Him. Visit firstsarasota.org.
