Encounter Fest

Encounter Fest is an AWESOME EVENT coming up in Welkom involving some of the best Christian bands in South Africa. If you’re here at St. Luke’s you will have seen their radical poster in the notice-board. Yes, it’s radical … it has a skull on it. I suppose when God told Moses to put a serpent on a stick in the desert we might have thought that was a bit radical … maybe even satanic … but when the people looked at it with faith they were healed. And years later Jesus even used the serpent on the stick in the desert to explain why He was going to be crucified (John 3:14).

Yes, some people have criticised the poster and drawn terrible conclusions from it but, see symbols don’t only have a single meaning or use. So when the Fest Organisers chose a skull to symbolise the death out of which the Holy Spirit will raise us to new life, they were not being satanic. And when the skull on the picture happens to have a crack in it (as most skulls do when they’re dead), that crack is not thus automatically a lightning bolt (the symbol of satan’s fall) … it is really just a crack.

I have posted immediately below this my response and Mark’s response to a letter we have received criticising the Fest. We do not wish to attack those who see things differently to us … we greatly respect and love them with the Lord’s love … but we do feel we need to stand up for the young men who are stepping out in faith to extend the Kingdom of God in Welkom. So please feel free to read and make up your own mind.

Dear Mr …..

Thank your for your concern for the “boys and young people” involved in CEO. I remind you that I am not in any way involved in the organization of this event, however I would like to respond to your email as someone who knows some of the young men involved. I can assure you that I am equally concerned for their spiritual well-being, especially those who belong to the Church under my pastoral care. I can also assure you that they have made every effort to be informed, have done a lot of homework and have been decidedly prayerful about every aspect of this event. That is not to say that they are incapable of making mistakes, but just to reassure you that they are not foolishly rushing in to something. They have taken a big step of faith and they are learning to take their trust in the Lord to new levels as they go along. In response to your attacks on the bands they have invited, may I encourage you to direct your criticism of their outward appearance to the band themselves and / or their publishers. This is surely not something that CEO has any control over. May I also encourage you to remember 1 Samuel 16:7 which says, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I am certainly not claiming to be an expert on any of these bands, nor am I wanting to defend their cause, but the lyrics for their songs which I have been able to find on the Internet have not given me any cause for concern.

In response to your attacks on the poster, over which CEO obviously has control, your conclusion that the crack in the skull is in the shape of a lightning bolt is not one which I share. Personally their explanation of the symbolism of the poster convinces me. It is a symbolic representation of the movement from death to life (the Cross). The Cross is not a broken cross, it is cross formed from the dust out of which the dead are rising by the power (the Spirit) of God. So, as you can see, from my perspective these are young believers, responding to God’s calling by faith, doing a lot of hard work to organize a Christian rock festival for Welkom, using bands that are recognized as Christian bands, and making every effort to be a blessing to the youth of Welkom. They have only one aim, and it is not to make money, but rather to help lost people come to faith in Jesus Christ… They are in fact organising a real Christian event for real people. I praise God for CEO and for their willingness to organise a REAL Christian event for a segment of the population who will be able to relate and to listen to the gospel in their own ‘language’ – rock music.

Yours in Christ our Lord

Rev. Dave Howard (St. Luke’s Methodist Church)

P.S. I attach below a response from our Youth pastor who has been more involved than I.  

Dear sir,

C.E.O. are a group of young people who are on fire for God and want to make a difference for Him. These young people are all involved in different churches in and around the city of Welkom. I have been involved and provided input and guidance as these young men and women have stepped out of the boat and taken on this massive project to bring glory to Jesus. I have been in awe of God as He has come through for them to make this event a possibility. I can testify to hours of prayer that have gone into planning and how God has provided guidance at each step of the planning process. I do think it is sad that bands that are clearly existing to honour God are being attacked. Especially when those bands have outstanding reputations and are clearly living for God’s glory. Instead of going on Google and finding one or two snapshots I would encourage people to find out the full story before reserving judgement. The bands that are being singled out have C.D’s available in most Christian bookstores and I would encourage anyone in doubt to go and read through the C.D. covers and to go listen to the bands (Gospel Direct stocks both Straatligkinders and New Altum and you can listen to them there). If you have the facilities please go online and check these bands websites and read what you can about them, I’m sure that you will be encouraged. Furthermore Straatilgkinders has performed in a church event in Welkom before and I’m sure that if you contact the Lighuis they will provide a glowing review. I can certainly attest to the positive influence that these bands have had in the lives of the young people I work with. The goal of this event is to Glorify Jesus and to create a space where young people who would never ordinarily set foot in a church would hear about God’s amazing love and be given an opportunity to start a relationship with Jesus. This is a generation who is willing to love the unloved, to do things that would make others quake in their boots, let’s not get in their way. So they dress funny, put skulls on their posters and listen to music where people are screaming the praises of God (weird I know) but they love Jesus and are passionate about Him I am fully prepared in my capacity as Youth Pastor at Saint Luke’s to support what they are trying to do and recognize the calling of God on their lives to host this event. If anyone has any queries regarding this event please feel free to contact me at our church office during office hours.

Love and Blessing

Pastor Mark Jackson Youth Pastor, Saint Luke’s Methodist Church 057 352 7615