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Faith, music and fellowship weave through summer WAGG events
Concerts, testimonies, and even a movie night brought Winfield neighbors together for a season of faith and fellowship
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WINFIELD — The Winfield Area Grateful Gathering (WAGG) stitched together an entire summer of music, testimony and community spirit, turning each month into a chapter of faith and fellowship.
From June through September, the events unfolded like a narrative: a ministry duo setting the foundation, brass music adding refinement, a film inviting families, a worship band deepening ties, and outdoor testimony closing the season.
WAGG's summer events began June 7 at Winfield United Methodist Church with Gary and Shannon Van Nyhuis, longtime ministry leaders who serve as associate pastors at Faith Christian Outreach Church in Mount Pleasant. The couple, who began active ministry in the early 1990s, brought a blend of music and testimony. Their presence grounded WAGG’s summer season in spiritual storytelling and heartfelt worship.
By July 19, the gatherings welcomed instrumental harmony when the Burlington-based South Hill Brass Quintet performed.
The ensemble, which has been playing across southeast Iowa for more than a decade, delivered rich brass arrangements rooted in the classic quintet tradition of two trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba.
“Saturday afternoon found the Winfield community attendees enjoying the talented Burlington South Hill Brass Quintet,” Barb Phelps said. “Numerous individuals at the WAGG Event are anxious to have the Quintet make a return visit. Strawberry shortcake was another treat during fellowship that followed.”
Their polished sound and the community dessert combined refinement with neighborly warmth.
WAGG focused on families during Crooked Creek Days, as people of all ages slowed down to enjoy a movie together on Aug. 2.
The group hosted a screening of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, a holiday film produced by the team behind The Chosen and distributed by Kingdom Story Company. This movie offered humor and a message of grace, drawing families to share laughter and storytelling. It reminded the community that fellowship can happen through lighthearted entertainment as much as through music.
Two weeks later, on Aug. 16, worship returned to the forefront when Wisconsin-born musician Brendan Brooks and his band led an evening of music and testimony at Winfield Methodist Church.
Brooks, who grew up in rural southwest Wisconsin, began playing guitar at 15 and leading youth worship at 16. He now tours across the U.S. and Canada, performing more than 150 shows annually, and has opened for Christian artists including TobyMac and Sidewalk Prophets.
“The WAGG community was blessed with entertainment from Wisconsin on Saturday evening,” Phelps said. “Brendan Brooks and his band blessed those who attended with his witness and music. Fellowship followed the event with an indoor picnic. Attendees enjoyed refreshing melons and avoided numerous black ants!”
The summer reached its crescendo Sept. 6 at Winfield City Park, where Bob and Stephanie Newton and the Victory Christian Center praise band from Columbus Junction brought an outdoor service filled with music, testimony and tacos.
Newton, who often describes himself as a “Hope Dealer,” has been in ministry with his wife, Stephanie, since 1994.
“The Victory Church praise band from Columbus Junction assisted Bob Newton to bring the inspirational message to those gathered at Winfield's City Park on Saturday late afternoon,” Phelps said. “Stephanie Newton, Bob’s wife, also shared her testimony. The WAGG event was attended by numerous individuals who enjoyed the good weather and walking tacos.”
Their music and testimony underscored the overall theme of WAGG summer event: shared faith and community.
Taken together, WAGG’s 2025 season reads like a carefully composed story. June’s ministry duo set the foundation with testimony, July’s brass quintet lifted spirits with instrumental artistry, early August brought a family movie night, mid-August returned to witness and worship with Brendan Brooks, and September concluded with outdoor praise and fellowship.
For Winfield, these gatherings were more than scheduled events. They were touchpoints where neighbors came together, music and message intertwined, and community was strengthened one song, story and shared meal at a time.
Barb Phelps contributed to this article.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
