With a heart to unite the community while serving God at the same time, Redland Acres owners Chris and Amy Yaklin opened their new venue to the public the evening of Aug. 2 with a free gospel singing.
Around 450 people showed up for the event with performances from three gospel acts: The Cameronian Boys; The Axe Handlers; and Lumber River.
Black and white chairs filled the venue, with white ones in the center outlining a cross — appropriate for the night’s gospel concert — and a view of the river hills similar to that in “The Sound of Music,” minus the mountains.
The event also included a large spread of desserts, including a large cake celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Cameronian Boys.
Luke Vuncannon, guitarist for The Axe Handlers, opened the show with a prayer before the Cameronian Boys took the stage.
Prior to signing, the group called the Yaklins up to the stage to present a plaque inscribed with scripture from Psalms 127:1: “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.”
The plaque also bore a message about the Yaklins’ faith: “Chris and Amy have built their lives and this venue on the strong foundation of their faith in Jesus Christ. May its walls stand tall as a testament to God’s faithfulness and their dedication to serving Him.”
The Axe Handlers, a bluegrass and gospel group that has been together for five years, were the second act, followed by Lumber River, which has so far had a 43-year run.
“The whole event was wonderful,” said Amy Yaklin. “The music and so many people, it was a great event. I’m so happy with the turnout. We are looking forward to more events like this in the future. Overall, it was a great evening with great people. We can't wait to do it again.”
For more information on Redland Acres, contact Sarah Maske at 910-387-2360, email redlandacresvenue@yahoo.com, or TikTok @redland.acres
