Creation Fest: The Tour Journal

We arrived at Ozark Civic Center (Ozark, AL) on the Lord’s Day around 8:00 am Central time on a misty morning.

The auditorium stage was set up and and fairly easy load-in. No matter how you cut it, load-in and load out is heavy work. Then comes the challenge of making everything fit and look good in the new venue. Sound checks, lighting checks, band checks…on the list goes. God has granted us the cream of the crop in all areas of sound, lights, production,etc. They work together and make it happen no matter what challenges they face.

Got to say…KJ-52 is not only a great rap artist, he is doing a terrific job as the MC. Cool guy with a great heart. He has George Moss along doing the show with KJ. Good choice KJ.

Cliff Skinner (production manager) had a nasty lower back ache and we made him sit out or just direct staffers. He is a hard guy to tie down for a while. Pray for his speedy recovery.

Around 4pm Pastor Harry led a devotional about Hebrews 11 and focused on Abraham’s faith. We had great time of prayer together with band members and staff. We are all expecting
God to do great things on this tour.

“Worth Dying For” had a great worship set and it was beautiful to see kids, arm -in-arm, praising Jesus. A sea of hands raised to the Lord. Every band out did themselves tonight. There is such a great sense of unity in the Spirit and no competition. Pastor Harry shared the message and the altar call and encouraged people to change this area for Christ.

We are heading back to Nashville tonight. Everyone is looking forward to a couple of days off to be with family and get refreshed for the next leg of the Creation Festival: The Tour. Of course there will be some fine-tuning of some items and picking up some additional gear. Stay tuned to our blog…the next stop is Chicago on the 17th!

Did I mention that God is Awesome? Just in case…let me say it again, GOD IS AWESOME!

We pulled into Cullman Alabama Fairgrounds around 9:30am (Central time). All the busses & trucks arrived together after a ten-hour ride from the last date. Long ride means more sleep for the performers and the bus drivers will catch up on their sleep during the day. Nick Kulb (Producer) messed up his foot the night before. He had a nasty gash on his heel from hitting a chair leg. Ouch! Limp, limp.

The event was out doors and it reminded all of us of Creation! The weather looked somewhat threatening for a while in the morning but then it totally cleared in the afternoon (thank you, Jesus). We were only a couple of hours from Nashville so some of the families of band members came and joined us. Great southern chow from a local church as well.

“Youth Quake” is in it’s sixth year, headed up by Shane Quick who works with Premiere. Essentially, the “Creation Festival: The Tour” was the program. In addition hot local band, “Nine Lashes,” opened and Matt Pitts who leads a youth movement called “The Basement” with over 6,000 kids coming in Birmingham, AL. Matt gave the message with drama a player and a candidate for the Heisman Trophy. This definitely was the largest crowd we have played for thus far on the tour. The bands had a great night – great all around. One little glich when the lights went out but all is well.

Siked for today’s outdoor show in Cullman, AL. 3,000+ people!

We pulled into the auditorium to load in about 8:30am.  It was a foggy trip but most of did not know it because we were asleep.  A really neat historic auditorium that reminded us of the Trenton War Memorial building where we held a ton of concerts in the early years of Come Alive.  Jeff, the promoter has a great heart and loves kids.

We had a couple of guys protesting the concert with sandwich signs saying we were an abomination and workers of iniquity.  I was proud of our guys who (with a sense of humor) talked with them <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8_HknD6_XY>.  Jesus said, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matt.5:44

The bands were really having fun tonight and shared their faith.  Pastor Harry gave the word and there was a good response.  He also shared about Compassion.  KJ-52 really did a great job as MC.  This crowd was really into the entire evening – having fun, worshipping, responding to the Word.  Great night!  Thank you Jesus.  Loading will finish somewhere between 1:00am and 2:00am and we will drive to Cullman, AL  We appreciate everyone’s prayers for the tour.  God is good!

The people of this church were fantastic to us.  We pulled in and were able to do rehearsals and fix and repair gear to make the show work.  Our guys were amazing and worked many late hours to make the show go off without a hitch.  RUSH Concerts promoted the show.  The treated us to good food and the Pastor and volunteers were just great.   They have a huge campus and the placed really rocked.  Bob Lenz gave the message, and people came forward  for salvation.  We loaded out an left for West Virginia about 2:30am.  It was Pastor Harry’s first time in tour bus bunk bed.  He did alright and was the first to rise in the morning.

Here’s the promotional video for the tour. This is the best tour on the planet!

Hi all!

I’ll be posting music videos from the bands playing on the tour. Here is Esterlyn ~ All We Need:

excited that for tour kick-off in one week!