Difference between revisions of "WAM Festival"

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WAM Festival was a series of Worship Arts and Music (WAM) Festivals held at Guelph Lake in Guelph, Ontario from 1997 to 1999.

WAM '98 was held July 3-5, 1998

We reflect upon the past four annual WAM festivals at the Guelph Lake Conservation Area with great satisfaction. Perhaps you have been one of those who have shared with us the way that God was given the space to meet with you at this event in fellowship with those around you. May Christ be Praised! You have contributed significantly to shaping the festival into what it has been known for.

Whether you have come to WAM as an encourager for those who have shared the music, art, dance, or drama that God has placed in their heart; or you have come to be encouraged as a performer and presenter of God's Creative Hand; perhaps you served the Body of Christ by cooking nourishing meals, providing security, site preparation or cleaning toilets...May God continue to bless you in all you do to build unity in the Body and encourage one another in Jesus Christ our strength.

Gord Freeman and Chris McCracken have spearheaded WAM from the beginning with their families and a sea of volunteers pulling together one of the most full featured Christian festivals in Ontario. We have been intent on shaping an event that would support Christians in their expression of faith through arts and music in order to build upon and encourage a stronger Christian Family. This was achieved by providing a venue for many musicians, visual and dramatic artists as well as children, mission, and business participants in an environment where we strived to make Christians of all denominations welcome. We've heard about missions, music, dance and worship. We've heard about faith, ministry, Christian business & spiritual growth. The music has been loud - and quiet; worshipful - and rowdy; soloists, duets, quartets, and more, right up to 7 member rock bands, a 12 member contemporary group and an over 20 voice mass choir.

In our efforts over the past five years we have shared much success and have been humbled by our limitations. We remained true to being an all-Canadian Christian festival in Ontario bringing over 60 acts / participants from B.C. and Nfld (with 95% coming from all over Ontario). We provided a quality family event for all those who attended and 'performed'. We kept a joyful heart in all of our hardship and trials. We learned again and again that we can plan whatever event programming we want, but God always has a way to take control and make things happen His way when we allow ourselves to be open to his leading. Yahoo! This humility is success.

Our limitations are most obvious financially. If we ever had 900 or 1000 people turn up we'd be in good shape. Unfortunately, when you take out the 150-200 participants, performers and volunteers, we're usually left with 300-500 paying guests. Those who are mathematically oriented will soon notice that we lose thousands of dollars each time we do this. Yet even with $35k in the red all is not lost.

Through laughter and tears, we have experienced and reflected upon WAM. Whenever we think it's time to give it up, a still small voice speaks, and continues to echo through countless individuals saying "This is good - Continue!" When we began, we started with a five year plan because we expected to have a tough beginning and didn't want to give up right away. This is year five, four festivals have come and gone.

WE INVITE YOU TO CELEBRATE WITH US the hand of our living God at work in the Body of Christ nourished by the Holy Spirit. We invite your comments, ideas and reflections as we continue to seek the leading hand of our Lord and celebrate the faithfullness of our God.

The WAM Festivals were organized by Gord Freeman

Gord Freeman
R.R. #3
Rockwood, Ontario N0B 2K0

Phone:519-856-2167

e-mail