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August 28, 2009

Rich Brown: "Big God" festival planned in Wheaton

How many events have you gone to in your lifetime that involved people from 20 churches to help bring them about? Moreover, how many times have you attended a five-day evangelist festival, expected to draw thousands, in a town of about 800 people?

If the answer is none, or even if it isn’t, you might want to take note of the following dates: Sept. 9 to 13. That is when the Forrest Ministries Evangelistic Association from Montgomery, Ala., will be making a stop in Wheaton to present “Big God — ACROSS the Ozarks.”

Although Forrest Ministries (endorsed by the North American Mission Board) conducts ACROSS Festivals throughout the United States, this will be the first time for one to come to a rural area.

Understandably, your next question might be: How can such a big event that requires help from churches in Barry, Newton and McDonald counties be pulled off in this small Barry County community?

Enter Gizmo’s Event Center. This recently completed fairgrounds-style center that is spread over 20 acres at the edge of Wheaton on Highway 86 has a grandstand capable of holding more than twice the population of the town, thanks to contributions from Wheaton’s native son, Dale “Gizmo” McCracken.

Gizmo’s is ideal for such a Christian festival, which is geared largely toward youths and features a skate park with a professional skateboard team and “Kids’ Zone” activities for children, as well as the main-stage events, such as concerts, life-changing messages and testimonies.

Mark Hall, pastor of the host church, First Baptist of Wheaton, said that activities will start at 7 p.m. each day at Gizmo’s, except for Saturday (Kids Day) when events kick off at 9 a.m. Also, during the day on Wednesday through Friday, Sept. 9 to 11, members of the evangelist team will put on assemblies at schools in Wheaton, Purdy, Cassville, East Newton and Rocky Comfort.

Another part of the event will be messages and testimonies from author and evangelist Ken Freeman, of San Antonio, Texas.

“He is a very popular youth evangelist ... sort of like the Billy Graham of youth evangelists,” Hall said.

The Texas evangelist, with the ability to connect to people of any age group, culture or background, has traveled throughout the United States and Canada. His approach to evangelism allows him to grab the attention of his audience through humor and his down-to-earth personality, according to his Web site, www.kenfreemanministries.com.

Freeman, who has been in the ministry more than three decades, will be speaking each night. In addition, a mass choir composed of people from area churches will be singing.

The Forrest Ministries Evangelistic Association, founder and director of the festivals, was started by Dean, Gayna and Geoffrey Forrest 17 years ago simply to tell people about Jesus. Their idea is to “partner with churches and associations to reach the unreached by taking the Gospel beyond the church walls, according to the organization’s Web site, www.acrossfestivals.com.

The Web site adds: “The full scope of the ministry involves all age groups through preaching the Gospel, teaching God’s word and leading others in contemporary praise and worship music.”

Address correspondence to Rich Brown c/o The Joplin Globe, P.O. Box 7, Joplin, MO 64802 or e-mail rbrown@joplinglobe.com.

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