Third annual praise and worship event set for June 30 at Riverfront Park

By Beth Sergent

For Mason County Extra Edition

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — Praise Along the River, which traditionally precedes the start of Liberty Fest in Point Pleasant, W.Va., is returning for a third year.  

The event will once again include praise, prayer, music, and a guest speaker, with prize drawings that were made possible by local sponsors being added to this year’s festivities. Praise Along the River returns to Riverfront Park at 7 p.m., Sunday, June 30 in Point Pleasant. Admission is free and there is no charge to enter the prize drawings.

Former Point Pleasant Mayor Brian Billings is back at the helm of the third installment of the Praise Along the River event.

Billings said he asked to remain involved with the event committee even after retiring as mayor, because: “Three years ago, the thought of this service was instilled in me. We have the perfect place to hold this uplifting praise event, and our city needed it.”

This year’s lineup is as follows:

The welcome message delivered by Billings;

Prayer of Praise from Joshua Waybright of Faith Baptist Church in Mason, W.Va.;

Musical performance by Sincere Revival, a group from Wheelersburg, Ohio;

Speaker Shawn Beauchamp from Canaan Land Church of Grove City, Ohio;

Musical performance by Generations Quartet, a group from Point Pleasant, W.Va.;

Closing remarks and prize drawings awarded. Also, for the third year in a row, sound will be provided by John Bonecutter.

Billings said prize drawings were made possible due to the generous donations of local businesses and organizations. Prizes include (but are not limited to) food and dining coupons from local establishments, free mini-golf passes, t-shirts, religious items, CD’s, and more.

“We are looking at over 25 prizes to be given out during the event,” Billings said. “These sponsors were very generous and encouraged us to do this.”

Billings gave special thanks to:

The City of Point Pleasant;

And also the following “Praise Along the River” partners:

APG Polytech;

City National Bank;

Coffee Grinder;

El Toril Mexican Restaurant;

Gino’s Pizza and Spaghetti House;

Ichiban 2 Chinese and Japanese Restaurant;

McHappy’s;

Ohio Valley Bank;

Peoples Bank;

Point Pleasant Trading Company;

Subway;

Supple Law Office;

Thrasher Group;

Tudor’s Biscuit World;

Bellemead United Methodist Church;

Willa’s Bible Book Store;

John and Denise Bonecutter;

Teka McCauley;

Beth Sergent.  

Billings stated hundreds of people have attended Praise Along the River since it began in 2022, and he hopes this special event continues for many years to come. 

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Beth Sergent has 20 years of experience in journalism, having worked as both a reporter and editor. She has a BLA in English from Marshall University, and a certificate in Technical Writing from Duke University. She is a lifelong resident of Point Pleasant, in Mason County.