Festival Director Duffy Johnson filed this report at the close of Celebrate Freedom/Day Two.

As the old saying goes, “lightening doesn’t strike the same place twice.” So we moved the Celebrate Freedom venue and it literally struck again tonight.  It seems we had to top last year’s performance of 19 inches of rain in three days for the mud fest called Celebrate Freedom ’07.  Unfortunately, for the first time in the 18 year history of the event tonight we had to CANCEL the event due to weather. 

With a gigantic storm approaching us with a reported 2 ½ inch sized hail, 60 mph straight line winds, lightening that would surpass our planned firework extravaganza finale, and a path of downed power lines local authorities along with event management canceled our show tonight just before 8 p.m. cst.  This was just a few minutes before Luis was scheduled to share the Good News – Andrew was slated to speak later in the evening.

Our staff reacted with seasoned poise and did an amazing job of helping getting hundreds of people into safe shelter.  It was amazing to watch our staff handle nervous and frustrated attendees as thousands were displaced from their stadium seats.  Despite closing the festival down 3 hours early and a main stage Gospel presentation canceled we were able to share the Good News 7 times in the Livin It and Children’s zone.

A few stories from today

-Jesse Beebe, our children’s chair, sprung into action to give a last minute Gospel presentation as the event was being shut down. A small group were saved including an 11 year old boy, named Jesse as well, who had his faced painted with an American flag.  The flag began to smudge as the two Jesse’s shared tears of joy together rejoicing over his salvation.
- A Livin It demo offered some extra thrills and Andrew Palau shared the Gospel.  A young lady brought by her boyfriend was overwhelmed by her need for Christ and was truly broken.  She prayed today for the first time for Christ to be the Lord of her life.
- We were expecting 60+ Harley’s to ride into our Livin It area today.  As the procession approached we soon realized that more than double that number had come.  Many of these riders helped share in leading people to Christ today in the Livin It area.
- Within minutes of the event being canceled Luis was afforded the opportunity to record his message in a remote 94.9 KLTY FM studio.  Luis was able to share biblical answers to why bad or disappointing things happen.  In his powerful message Luis used the verse Romans 8:28 to give believers assurance that God had a purpose for this. He was then able to present the Gospel clearly to the audience via the radio.  A rarity at best for this Salem station, maybe a first.

Today we are reminded of God’s great sovereignty. His ways are higher than our ways and I would ask that you pray for our staff, the KLTY staff (our radio station partner for the event), local teams and committees, and the executive board members who have tried for over two years to bring a great festival to their beloved city only to see weather interfere.  In the end we can trust in knowing that all things work together for the good of those who love Him and we do rejoice in the many lives that were changed for eternity over the past two days.  If only there was one, all the angels in heaven rejoice.  We have much to rejoice tonight!!!

Posted in Andrew Palau News