The JMU Festival Center was alive with fresh and inspiring music, warm and intimate fellowship, and a heartfelt and impassioned message from Steve Wingfield during the SWEA annual banquet on Tuesday May 8th.
Tim McAvoy, Vice President of Ministry Operations and pastor of New Beginnings Church, emceed the evening with his customary charm, wit, and comfortable speaking style. JMU graduate and local worship leader Annie Lawrence absolutely captivated the gathered group with her beautiful voice as she sang some of her own compositions and a few songs with which the audience sang along.
Two young men, John Landis and Travis Bowman, who have been inspired by the ministry’s Victory Weekend outreaches and have volunteered their time to be at the races, testified to the powerful and life-changing effect being involved with a Victory Weekend has had on them.
When Steve took the platform, he spoke from his heart as he recounted the story of the new mobile stage which has been given to SWEA and how it will enable the ministry to be much more effective in presenting the Gospel at the various NASCAR race events. Tears filled his eyes when he spoke of a time some 30 years ago when a Kansas wheat farmer explained to him that the phrase “white for harvest” in John 4:35 (in some translations) meant that time is running dangerously short and that harvest time must go forth immediately. Steve has never forgotten that lesson and has conducted his evangelistic ministry with those words ringing in his heart and mind.
Pastor John Sloop of Harrisonburg’s First Presbyterian Church concluded the evening’s proceedings by humorously paying tribute to the ministry staff and then delivering a powerful prayer of unity and purpose.
Later this year the ministry will hold two more celebration banquets in Ohio (August 14) and in Pennsylvania (October 2). We pray that they will be as well received and as meaningful as the Virginia banquet.
Banquet sponsors include:
Premium
Beam Brothers Trucking
The Printing Express
Rockstreet Media
Platinum
Bast Construction
David and Cindy Shank
Dwight and Carolyn Houff
Howard and Zanette Hahn
LD&B
Silver
R.S. Mongers and Sons, Inc.
The Power Connection, Inc.
Weaver’s Flooring America
Table Sponsors
Alferd and Roma Bontrager
Bluestone Vineyard – Curt and Jackie Hartman
Bowman Auction
Brian and Ashley Carr
Cleo and Millie Rhodes
James Dye
John and Kara Landis
John and Linda Bomberger
Landes Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc.
Luke and Sylvia Weaver
Neff Lumber Mills, Inc. – Michael Hoover
New Beginnings Church
Paul and Sherry Cline
Vada Martin
