How did plans for a small “concert in the park” with a local band become a large festival with 18 national and local bands, six guest speakers, entertainment, and a chance to win $5,000?

“God. That’s pretty much it,” says Julie Barnes, one of Spirit Midwest’s founders. “The first year we wanted to take our little acoustic band to a park to provide an outreach to the city. God brought us a national band, a sound system, a venue beyond our wildest imaginations, and another eight bands to fill the day.”

That was 2006. This year’s Spirit Midwest Festival is taking place this Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight at Prairie Ridge Sports Complex in Ankeny. The national band Everyday Sunday will perform at 9:45 p.m. on the main stage. Twelve other bands will take the main stage throughout the day. A second stage—newly added this year—will host five additional musicians, as well as a coffee and ice cream vendor.

“Almost every band we invited to the festival this year is focusing on—and often challenging others to focus on—deepening your personal walk with the Lord,” Julie says. “When we realized this, we decided to be proactive in coming alongside God in this challenge by incorporating a Spirit Midwest Prayer Team, who have collectively been going through a targeted pray guide for the week leading up to the festival.”

Six guest speakers, including two of our own Veritas staff members, will speak between musical performances. Other highlights of the day include a free inflatable village for children, a contest to catch a tagged fish worth $5,000, and a National Guard climbing wall.

Although it will obviously be a fun-filled day, the mission of the festival goes much deeper. “Originally we felt the festival was targeted toward bringing unchurched youth and young adults to a saving knowledge of Christ,” Julie says. “However, each year we have felt more and more that God is also using this festival to strengthen families and provide a place for them to come as a unit and enjoy the day together. This year, we have also heard a strong call to bring Christians into a deeper relationship with Christ.”