Easterfest!!!

Hello all!

Entry Gate of Easterfest

Mainstage performance last year

Man has it been a busy few weeks! Jonathan and I have both been working full-time with Easterfest for the past few weeks, and we are now working full time from this crazy awesome..HUGE.. tent set up in Queen's Park. Easterfest is the largest Christian music festival in Australia, bringing in tens of thousands of people from across the world for the Easter weekend. There are some of the world's top music artists... such as Switchfoot, Petra, Newsboys, Naturally 7, Darlene Zchech from Hillsong, and many many more. Easterfest City will send smaller known artists and bands to perform in cafes, pubs, shopping centers, and city squares as well. This will be a HUGE economic boost to the city after the devastating floods that occurred in January. Greater than that though, the Easter gospel message will be proclaimed throughout the city all weekend long. Easterfest is set up so to attract non-Christians while providing a drug and alcohol free environment. There is a special crew called "Easterfestivity" that will be solely sharing the gospel message of Jesus with people in the park, on the streets of the city, in the campgrounds, and everywhere else in the city. Churches will all join together for a joint worship service in the park led by Darlene Zchech on Easter Sunday, and we anticipate hundreds coming to know Jesus.

We have never seen anything that more fully brings a city (both Christians and non-Christians) together in unity than Easterfest. It is an incredible place for Christians to intermix with non and allow the Holy Spirit to flow in relationship. Many youth groups come and camp throughout the weekend, so there are many late-night fireside talks that turn into people being led to Christ. We can't wait to see all that happens!

Queen's Park getting ready for Easterfest 2011

It has been an honor to work with Easterfest, and we have learned sooooo much! Jonathan is main Artist Coordinator, working with the big-wig music artist and managers for months on itineraries, sets, tech specs, fleet, and more. I've been the VIP Guest Coordinator, working on providing guest passes and special priviledges to political leaders, pastors, city leaders, sponsors, media, etc. We've also gotten our hands in several other things such as crew management, other admin, working to development venues in Easterfest City, and more. We also can't wait to meet Switchfoot and the other artists in person :) :) It's definitely all about Jesus though!

So please be in prayer for us this weekend. We will be working 6am until 1 or 2 in the morning for the next three days. We need physical and mental strength, but we are definitely excited at the same time.

Blessings,
Melissa and Jonathan