Beautiful weather, large crowds and ministry marks annual music festival

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (September 17, 2009) – On Labor Day weekend 2009, the twelfth annual LifeLight Music Festival was held under beautiful skies in Sioux Falls, S.D. LifeLight co-founder Alan Greene said that the three full days of worship, music, camping, food and fellowship will long be remembered as one of the  best festivals in their 12-year history.

“After battling rain or heat during the past few festivals, we were blessed this year with beautiful weather which led to large crowds and changed lives,” Greene said. “We handed out almost 20,000 gospel booklets and tracts and distributed all 3,000 of our Bibles.”

“We are grateful for our many donors who give generously to the ministry so we can continue to offer the event free of admission—which we believe is a call from God and our founding principle,” Greene said. “Due to generous donations throughout the year and at the festival, we were able to fully fund the festival.” Festival attendees contributed $218,862 and when camping fees and food and merchandise royalties are included, total income from the festival was $372,063.

“However, LifeLight is a year-round ministry and our need for support doesn’t end when the crowds leave the grounds,” Greene said. “In order to continue concert tours, missions, student ministries and many other activities, we need $250,000 by the end of the year. Our faithful monthly donors are expected to contribute $64,000 by year-end, leaving the need to raise $186,000 to meet our annual budget.”

LifeLight co-founder Vicki Greene said that, as in previous years, they were able to minister beyond the festival grounds. “Those who attended the festival sponsored 125 children from Belo, Ethiopia through our partnership with Food for the Hungry,” Greene said. “We also had 169 people sign up for the live online broadcast of the main stage concerts.”

“Additionally, recording artist Lincoln Brewster visited Avera Behavioral Health Center and evangelist Andrew Palau visited the inmates at the South Dakota State Penitentiary, while Michael Tait and Duncan Phillips of the Newsboys visited the home of a local 6-year old boy with a rare bone marrow failure disorder.”

The artists who performed on the five LifeLight Festival stages included Newsboys, Kutless, Sanctus Real, Superchick, Lincoln Brewster, Rush of Fools, and many more. The speakers at the festival included the offspring of two of the world’s most recognized evangelists – Will Graham, grandson of Billy Graham, and Andrew Palau, son of Luis Palau. For a complete list of the lineup, go here

In summary, Julie Klinger, Festival Director added, “From weather to attendance to volunteers to ministry, this was one of the best festivals in our 12-year history.”