August 5-8, 2010, Kidron, OH: A Weekend in Amish Country
As promised, the Lord showed Himself in a powerful way on the Amish countryside of Holmes County , Ohio during Summerfest 2010. The stage was set complete with horse and buggy as people of diverse religious backgrounds met together under one tent to magnify the Lord and support the causes of the Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale. The experience was one that the staff of Steve Wingfield Evangelistic Association won’t soon forget!
Holmes County is located in central Ohio and is home to the world’s largest Amish community. Lining the beautiful landscape are picturesque farms and the many farmer’s markets offering homegrown crops and handmade products. Each Saturday tourists flock to the shops for crafts and personal treasures. The community’s deeply rooted faith is displayed each Sunday as most restaurants and shops close their doors in honor of the Sabbath.
Summerfest 2010 kicked off on Thursday, August 5th with a youth concert featuring Polen, led by a local youth pastor, Jeff Polen. Jeff began his singing career as part of a country group called JP Country. They won Ohio Music Band of the Year in 2003. Steve gave a message of hope and inspiration to those in attendance as Polen complemented with songs of praise and worship.
Friday, August 6th was the official start of the Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale & Auction (OMRS). Summerfest and OMRS took turns on the main stage by alternating between auctioning items and performing uplifting music for the audience. Steve donated two raspberry pies to the auction which brought in over $1,000!
The partnership continued Saturday morning with OMRS in full swing and Summerfest providing activities for the youth. A volleyball tournament with 18 teams competed throughout the day while Lesha Campbell ministered to the children and Team Xtreme performed for all ages. A performance by Ken Medema was held later that evening. Ken, blind from birth, has been performing vocally for over 32 years for crowds ranging from 50 – 50,000 people.
Sunday, August 7th concluded the weekend with a reunion of SWEA friends, including Sam and Pam Van Horn, Carla Karst, and John Schmid. Their mix of musical styles ranged from contemporary Christian to southern gospel. John Schmid, a native to the area, closed out the night by performing a variety of songs, including ones taken from his latest CD, A Tribute to Johnny Cash.
Each night of the festival, Steve Wingfield gave a powerful message of hope and inspiration. Many made decisions for Christ as the Festival Praise Band played in the background. Petru Lulusa, a native of Romania and long-time friend of Steve, also performed each night. His story of freedom from communist rule in Romania is a testament to the mercy of God.
