A Party With a Purpose

They came in droves. Cars, vans and buses kept coming. Mostly young folks but plenty of adults from all over the state (and I’m sure other states) bringing their lawn chairs and blankets. An estimated 15,000 people were on the campus of Southside Baptist Church in Warner Robins, Georgia last night for Freedom Fest 2006.



I was there.

And it was a party.

But it was the kind of party you would have loved your teenage son or daughter to be attending. There were no drugs or alcohol being consumed. I did not see the first person arrested for disorderly conduct. And nobody who attended had a hangover on Sunday morning.

It was a safe environment and it gave this old fifty something year old guy chill bumps as he took it all in.

The headliner was a group called Casting Crowns. They have won the Gospel Music Association’s Group of the Year two years in a row and also have a Grammy award under their belt for Gospel Album of the Year. I would say they are not just a little bit good. They are real good.



Freedom Fest began at 3PM and there were a number of artists who appeared on the stage. The well known group called Lord Song was there as was former rocker Kevin Derryberry. And there were others.

The Governor of Georgia made an appearance to recognize and honor our public servants who risk their lives every day to make our lives better and safer.

My nephew, Hoke Bryan, even had his coming out party. He was on the stage a couple of times promoting Tennessee Temple University where he just entered as a freshman. One would have thought he was a pro with the stage presence and command he had on the stage. I got just a glimpse of his potential last night.



But there was a message ringing loud and clear at this party with every song played and every word spoken.

There was help for the helpless. There was encouragement for the discouraged. There was acceptance for the rejected. There was unconditional love for those who felt unloved. There was forgiveness for those who had taken the wrong road. And there was hope for the hopeless.

It was the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And the message was delivered with clarity, with passion and with authority.

And it was received with thanksgiving and singing and swaying and dancing and hi-fives all around.

It was a party with a purpose.

And if you have teenagers around your house, I suggest you go ahead and put it on your calendar for next year now. There may be different artists but I can promise you the message will be the same.

In the world we live in today, you really don't want them to miss it.

I have a feeling this party will get larger and larger every year. My friend and pastor Jerry Walls of Southside Baptist will make sure it does.

He is a man on a mission.