The Victory Weekend team rolled into Brooklyn, Michigan on Tuesday afternoon (August 11) to another warm welcome at the Juniper Hills Campground. On Thursday, the vendor display got set up with the show car to bring awareness to Victory Weekend concerts on Friday and Saturday evening.
The Church Of The Saviour volunteers were a HUGE asset! Thank you so much. The Victory Weekend team reports that having three amazing ladies to work the vendor area tent freed up the team for other tasks. The volunteers were all blown away by all of the one-on-one interaction with fans and the caliber of conversations. Also having two guys volunteer was great for help with set up and tear down. Thanks again, volunteers! We are so grateful for you.
The Friday vendor tent area was swamped with people and amazing ministry. The Victory Weekend team spent time throughout the day interacting with fans, playing corn hole, and loading people in and out of the car.
Severe weather was questionable from the north all day. But there was no significant threat, and the team was determined to go on with the show. Chareé White played a great set and the Victory Weekend team worked the crowd building excitement for Saturday’s big show. Heat lightning was all around, but it was dry as could be, so Southern Edge took the stage and the crowd grew even more. The wind died down, and it seemed as though the storms had passed.
But then 70 MPH wind gusts took everyone by surprise, and the skies opened up. Everyone got soaked, and the Friday show was over for the day! The Victory Weekend team scrambled to get sound gear and equipment all covered. Everyone did an amazing job protecting the gear and then had to focus on the canopy on both sides of the trailer. The side of the stage took a small beating, and it took five people to hold down the back canopy for about an hour until the wind passed.
Saturday morning, the Victory Weekend team got to work with some minor repairs. Two new tents had to be picked up for the vendor site because of wind damage. Again volunteers ran the tent talking with fans, and team members took turns in the tent shade to get relief from the brutal heat. Saturday promised no chance of rain.
Fans lined up and brought their chairs out an hour before the show, and it was shaping up to be an amazing night! Southern Edge kicked off the night, and Chareé White rocked her set. All the veterans, military personnel, and first responders (35 total) were called to the stage to be honored with a medal. Chareé knocked out the National Anthem, and then Pastor and SWEA board member Vernon Zook gave a message of salvation. The crowd had an amazing response – 125 people said yes to life with Jesus!
The Victory Weekend team had a very emotional encounter with a young soldier suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and needing to reach out. He came and asked for a Bible and more information, which he received.
Michigan’s Victory Weekend was truly an amazing time. Thank you so much for your support. Please keep praying for all of these NASCAR fans!
