THE MINISTRY OF LIFEST CONTINUES
OSHKOSH, WI Despite much adversity, including days of rain, the ministry of Lifest 2003 prevailed. Final attendance numbers are still being calculated, however initial estimates show a 10 to 15 percent increase in attendance over 2002. Over 2,300 campsites were sold, and more than 320 people made the commitment to sponsor a child through Compassion International. Yet the ministry of Lifest can’t be measured in numbers alone. Read on to find out interesting facts about Lifest 2003…
The ministry of Lifest was seen in the staff and volunteers who worked hard to make sure the rain and mud wouldn’t stop any bands from performing. The Audio Adrenaline concert was moved to the covered Edge Stage Thursday night. Truckloads of woodchips were delivered to the grounds on Friday and a road was constructed behind the grandstand in order for Third Day to perform that night to a packed crowd.
Attendees and volunteers remained positive, even though many campers had to relocate and portions of the main parking lot had to be abandoned for dryer ground across the street at the County Park.
The ministry of Lifest is shown through the artists. Two young girls and a small audience in the Karaoke tent got the surprise of their lives on Saturday afternoon when Rebecca St. James suddenly appeared to help them sing her song, “Wait for Me.”
The ministry of Lifest was evident on the faces in the crowd Saturday night who sang worship songs as they watched an incredible fireworks display. Staff, volunteers and festival goers complied with the request to turn off cell phones and radios near the grandstand stage that afternoon to keep fireworks from going off before the show. One did discharge early during a sound check, likely caused by the sound equipment.
Lifest ministry is the hope in the faces of the 35 youth who participated in the first-ever Lifest Youth Choir at the Sunday morning worship service. It is the way hearts were moved during the closing concert by Michael W. Smith.
The ministry of Lifest can be seen in the condition of the grounds when it is all over. Clean-up crews put in a long day of work on Monday, but attendees and campers made a huge difference by picking up before heading home. The grounds were left in better condition than when Lifest began.
Most importantly, the ministry of Lifest was shown by the people who stood to make a commitment to Christ at the Sunday morning worship service and the thousands that stood making the commitment to take a piece of Lifest with them and share it with the world.
Lifest 2004 is scheduled for July 8-11 at Sunnyview Expo & Fairgrounds in Oshkosh.