Open Skies To Bring Bethel Music And KB To Downtown Topeka

This fall, thousands are invited to gather under the open sky in the heart of downtown Topeka for an unforgettable evening of music, hope and community. The AIM 5 Foundation today announced Open Skies, a new, free event featuring internationally acclaimed Bethel Music with Jenn Johnson and Dove Award-winning hip-hop artist KB, on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Evergy Plaza in downtown Topeka.

Open Skies is designed as an intentional gathering that brings together globally recognized artists and the community to celebrate worship, seek the Holy Spirit and invite people to discover and follow Jesus. The event welcomes people from across Christian traditions, as well as those who may not consider themselves people of faith but are looking for a family friendly evening of incredible music, hope and community.

The inaugural event comes during the 125th anniversary year of the 1901 Topeka Outpouring, widely recognized as a pivotal moment in the emergence of the modern Pentecostal movement. But the Outpouring is just one chapter in a much larger story of faith woven throughout Topeka's history.

Beginning with Christian abolitionists and Free-State settlers in the 1850s, faith communities played an important role in shaping the city's earliest years. That legacy continued with the founding of what would become Washburn University by Congregationalists in 1865 and later through Topeka minister and author Charles Sheldon, whose In His Steps and the question "What Would Jesus Do?" helped influence the Social Gospel movement. Then, on January 1, 1901, events at Charles Parham's Bethel Bible School placed Topeka at the beginning of another movement that would eventually reach communities around the world.

"Topeka has a remarkable story of faith that stretches back nearly to the city's founding, and Open Skies gives us an opportunity to share that story with a new generation," said Sean Dixon, president of Visit Topeka. "The 125th anniversary of the Topeka Outpouring provides a unique moment to reflect on one important chapter of that history, but the story is much bigger. From abolitionists motivated by their faith to Charles Sheldon's call to put faith into action and the movements that followed, ideas that took root herehave reached far beyond Kansas. We look forward to welcoming visitors to discover that history while experiencing an incredible night in the heart of our city."

The event is an effort of the AIM 5 Foundation, a Christ-centered foundation created to bring God glory through strategic partnerships and high-impact investments that strengthen communities and change the trajectory of people's lives.

"We believe there is something powerful about intentionally creating a place where people can come together—to worship, to seek the Holy Spirit and to experience the hope found in Jesus," said Keaton Vander Hart, executive director of the AIM 5 Foundation. "Open Skies isn't about one church or one denomination. It's about creating a space where the broader Christian community can gather together and where anyone who is searching, curious or simply wants to be part of something meaningful knows they are welcome."

The evening will feature two artists whose music reaches audiences around the world.

Bethel Music, featuring Jenn Johnson, has grown from a local church music ministry into one of the most influential names in contemporary worship, reaching a global audience through billions of streams and songs sung by millions of people in churches around the world. Their catalog includes some of the genre’s most recognized songs, including “Goodness of God,” “It Is Well,” “Raise a Hallelujah” and “Reckless Love.”

KB is a Dove Award-winning rapper, pastor, author and one of the leading voices in Christian hip-hop. His albums have topped Billboard's Christian Albums chart, and his music combines high-energy performances with messages centered on faith, purpose and hope.

"From the beginning, AIM 5 has been about putting belief into action and using what we've been given to make a meaningful impact," said Cody Foster, founder of the AIM 5 Foundation. "Our hope for Open Skies is that it becomes a place where everyone feels welcome. Whether you've followed Jesus your entire life, come from a different faith tradition, haven't been to church in years or aren't sure what you believe at all, there's a place for you here." Foster continues "Come for the music, come with questions, come to worship or simply come experience the night with your community. We want to create an environment where people can gather together and encounter something bigger than themselves."

Open Skies will be free and open to everyone, offering residents and visitors an opportunity to experience world-class live music, food trucks, and a unique community gathering in the heart of downtown Topeka.

Learn more at openskiestopeka.com.
Open Skies
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Evergy Plaza | Downtown Topeka, Kansas
Featuring Bethel Music with Jenn Johnson and KB
Free and open to everyone