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Economy Turning Down the Volume at LifeLight Festival

Posted on: Dec 08, 2008

Still 9 Months Away, Global Economic Troubles are Likely to Shrink the Area’s Largest Event

December 8, 2008 (Sioux Falls, SD) - Hundreds of thousands of people enjoy the free LifeLight Festival every summer. But changes are likely as the current economic crisis has hit hard at the offices of LifeLight Festival organizers.

“Putting on an event of this size begins the day after the previous festival ends,” said Alan Greene, Founder and President of LifeLight Communications. “And so the 2009 LifeLight Festival could look very different to people based on our current financial situation,” adds Greene.

As the festival begins its 12th year, the challenges of keeping it going have never been greater. Many perceive that the event is something so large and established it must be very well-funded. The reality is that only one fourth of LifeLight’s budget is covered by corporate sponsors and churches. In addition, donations or offerings taken at the festival yield an average of only 62 cents per attendee.

According to Greene, LifeLight exists because people believe in it and decide to give all year long, not just during the festival. “In order for the festival to continue at its current level, we need to raise almost $300,000 by the end of the year.”

Currently, LifeLight has a little over 100 donors that give regularly. “We’re so grateful for those that come along side us and support us,” said Vicki Greene, Co-Founder and Ministry Director. “But at this level, we have no choice but to make drastic changes in next year’s festival,” she added.

The biggest expense in putting on the festival is the bands, production and operations, not including the staff to coordinate the event. LifeLight has already cut staff positions and hours. So even though the cost of the festival is 50-75% lower than similar events around the country, financial shortfalls could result in a smaller festival with less funds available to spend on the big-name bands we’ve had in past years.

But Alan and Vicki Greene remain hopeful. “The 2008 festival was the most well-run event that we’ve ever done . . . everything just fell into place,” said Alan. “So from the hundreds of thousands of people that have benefited from LifeLight, we hope that they’ll now get behind us and keep us going,” added Vicki.

From its inception, the LifeLight Festival has endeavored to remain an admission free event. Many people have difficulty understanding why LifeLight doesn’t simply begin charging admission to the festival. But Alan and Vicki believe that above all else, God has called them to keep the festival a free event.

“The founding principle of the LifeLight Festival was that it would be offered for free and God has blessed the LifeLight Festival. This is obvious to anyone who has attended the event. So we cannot ask for God’s continued blessing while we break our promise to keep it free,” explains Alan. “This is the challenge in any economic conditions . . . will we be faithful even when things get tough. God will honor and bless those who are faithful,” added Greene.

Founded in 1998, LifeLight Communications is a faith-based, non-profit organization that facilitates numerous concerts, mission trips, tours, student clubs, radio shows and other events by partnering with churches, businesses and other ministries. The LifeLight Festival, held annually on Labor Day weekend, is their largest event, drawing 320,000 people over three days this year. For more information, please visit http://www.lifelight.org.