August 16, 2024

National Christian music festival SoulFest now underway in Greenfield

REGIONAL
Staff Report

SoulFest attendees enjoying contemporary Christian music as the three day festival got underway on Thursday, Aug. 15 at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Greenfield. (Photo courtesy Joseph Austin)

GREENFIELD – The Franklin County Fairgrounds came alive Thursday evening as the three-day SoulFest Christian Music Festival kicked off in Greenfield.

Now in its 26^th year, this popular Christian music festival is being held for the first time at the fairgrounds. SoulFest features national caliber Christian musicians all in one venue.

Grammy nominee and GMA Dove award winner Matt Maher, who wrote “Lord I Need You,” and “All the People Said Amen,” kicked off the gathering on Thursday evening. He is among more than 60 artists performing at the festival. Other musicians who will take the stage are Crowder, Zach Williams, Matthew West, Matt Maher, Lecrae, and We Are Messengers to name a few.

“We are so excited about our new home for SoulFest at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Greenfield. While it’s a new location for everyone, we are thrilled by the community’s response and excited to plant this beautiful, life-changing event at this location,” said SoulFest founder, Dan Russell.

“Our prayer is that all who attend and participate in SoulFest will find the courage to live from the inside out as soul-connected, risk-taking believers in God’s unconditional love for everyone. It’s three days of inspiration through great music, teaching, family fun activities, reconnecting with old friends, meeting new ones, and deepening your faith journey,” he said.

Organizers have worked closely with the Catholic community.  The newly created diocesan Office of Missionary Discipleship has a tent set-up at the festival and Mass will be offered each day. In addition, the tent will host an “Ask Me Anything” question and answer session with local priests and a space for confessions to be heard.

Franklin County parishes staffing the diocesan tent at the SoulFest Christian Music Festival. (Photo courtesy Joseph Austin)

“SoulFest attracts a diverse crowd of people from all walks of life. Some are really devout and in love with the Lord; others are really wrestling,” commented Missionary Discipleship director, Joseph Austin.

“Our Catholic presence at SoulFest is like a little lighthouse, a safe haven where people can come and discover something deeper, to discover Christ,” Austin went on to say.

The tent offers a comfortable place to engage in dialogue as well as a resource place for information on the Catholic community, especially in Franklin County.    

“Our tent was a little microcosm of the Catholic Church, a place of discovery and discussion. Next to the tent, we also set up a large Bohemian style lounge area with carpets and lounge chairs where people could come to go to confession or just talk with a priest,” Austin shared.

More than 4,000 people are expected to attend. Organizers are providing discounted tickets to parishioners in the Diocese of Springfield. For a complete schedule log onto https://www.thesoulfest.com/schedule.