Jesus Day held at Craig Field, photo gallery

Churches from all over Dallas County gathered at Craig Field on May 1 to celebrate Jesus Day. 

Event organizer Dr. Wilks Chittom said he was overjoyed at the turnout. “Considering the fact we had to move and there is rain, I think the turnout is great,” Chittom said. “And honestly the criteria I use to determine the success and excitement of an event is by the number of smiles per square inch, and everybody has a smile. All kinds of people. All enjoying Jesus. 

The event featured inflatable bounce castles and slides for the kids, face painting and plenty of food. A prayer tent was erected for those who needed special prayer help. 

The celebration opened with the blowing of the shofar by Chittom and Eric Dawson. A shofar is an instrument made of a ram’s horn used in religious ceremonies in ancient. The children’s choir from Shilo Baptist Church treated the congregation to handbell music. Crosspoint Christian Church Praise and Worship Team brought their inspirational music to the stage, and Pastor Jon Chappelle of Selma Church of God preached and had the crowd on their feet. Chittom from First Baptist Church was next to preach. Hip hop artist DPB got up and once again the crowd was on its feet. Rev. Stephen Smith of Pine Glenn Community Church wrapped up the celebration.

What is now Jesus Day started in 1993 by local dentist Dr. Eugene Howell as a march for Jesus. Chittom explained that many churches are involved in Jesus Day, and over the years the event has been at many different locations. “We have been downtown at Browns Chapel; we have been at First Baptist on Martin Luther King Street; we have been at the Lion’s Pavilion on Dallas Avenue over all these many years,” Chittom said. “We were asked to come here because they want to plant a church at Craig Field.” 

Rev. Smith said the new church is called Pine Glenn Community Church.  “We had a vision some years ago to start a church in this community,” Smith said. “I was a chaplain for the Alabama Department of Corrections at the time, but now I’m retired. God has put on my heart to start the church out here now.”