New Life’s Freedom Fest still thriving in its 10th year
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IF YOU GO
What: Freedom Fest and Day of Compassion.
Where: New Life Assembly of God, 2416 N. Wright Road, Janesville.
When: June 25: Day of Compassion runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Freedom Fest rides and entertainment begin at 11 a.m. Fireworks begin at about 9:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Main stage entertainment
4:30 p.m.: New Life Band
6 p.m.: In This Room, Christian rock.
7:30 p.m.: Matthew West, a singer-song writer with two top hits on the Christian charts, including “The Motions” and “Give this Christmas Away.” His album “Something to Say” reached No. 7 on the Christian charts and No. 95 on Billboard’s Top 200.
Kids’ Stage
2 p.m.: FX, young singers and musicians.
3 p.m.: Heart Strong Step Team
4 p.m.: Eric’s Way Entertainment, juggler and entertainer.
5 p.m.: New Life Noodle People, dancers.
JANESVILLE — They never dreamed it would get this big.
Ten years ago, New Life Assembly of God started Freedom Fest, a Fourth-of-July celebration of faith, country and community.
It was like a big neighborhood picnic with fireworks and plenty of stuff for kids to do.
The event remains a celebration of God, country and community, but it’s also become an event with rides, top-ten recording artists and a significant fireworks show.
And it’s still free.
Admission, rides, parking, main stage entertainment—all free. Food vendors are asked to keep their prices to a minimum.
Meanwhile, in the 10 years since Freedom Fest’s inception, the Fourth of July festivities in downtown Janesville have been passed from organization to organization, and fundraising for the event remains a challenge.
The Gazette talked to and exchanged e-mails with the Rev. Michael Jackson about what makes Freedom Fest work. Here’s what was discussed:
Question: So what makes Freedom Fest so successful?
Answer: “Our congregation believes in the vision of it,” Jackson said. “We use this model in our church: We’re the ones that pay the price. We’re the ones who pay for the entertainment, so people who couldn’t afford to go see a show can see the show. We’re bringing in a 70-foot Ferris wheel so kids who couldn’t afford to ride can ride.”
The congregation has an active outreach to Janesville’s Fourth Ward and believes in supporting the families that live there, Jackson said.
The congregation has established “Freedom Fest Friends,” through which “friends” adopt single-parent families for the day. The adopted family might consist of children, or it might be a parent and his or her children.
“We buy their meals. We make sure the kids have a great time at the event,” Jackson said.
Many of those relationships continue after the event.
Q: How is it funded?
A: Business sponsors pay for more than half of the event, and the rest is paid by congregation and community donations and a golf fundraiser, Jackson said. A small amount of revenue is generated by food vendors.
“Last year, two ladies in the church donated an extra $1,000 apiece for the fireworks. They said they just wanted to have the greatest show around,” Jackson said. “The point: People give. I also like to say, ‘God is good, and God is faithful. He supplies our needs.’”
Q: You often get asked, ‘Why not give that money to the poor?’
A: “My response to that is, ‘I wonder how many of those who ask that question give money to the poor?’” Jackson said. “I know this: We give approximately a thousand pounds of food away each month in our food pantry.”
The church has also been active in local health care issues, connecting the un- and under-insured with health care. They also raised enough money to have a well drilled in a drought-stricken area of Africa.
“We do not take money from our benevolence fund to fund Freedom Fest,” Jackson said. “Or to put it another way, if we were never to have Freedom Fest, that decision would not result in our being able to do more for the poor than we already do.”
Q: What’s new this year?
A: A “Day of Compassion” from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mercy Health System will offer a variety of health screenings, and dentists from the Janesville area will do basic dental checkups, Jackson said.
“Mercy has been such a blessing,” Jackson said. “They are putting thousands of dollars into this effort.”
Janesville dentist Lloyd Smith has been leading the effort to get other dentists involved in the checkups.
Along with the regular bouncy houses, obstacle courses and rides, the event will also feature a 70-foot Ferris wheel.
Q: It seems counterintuitive—at least in Wisconsin—not to serve beer at the event.
A: A: “I think it’s one of the key components of our success,” Jackson said. “People want a family-friendly event; they don’t want to see the vulgarities of drunkenness.”
Alcohol-free events also don’t have as many problems.
“I think in the 10 years we’ve had the event, we had one fight and one disorderly drunk who wandered in off the grounds,” Jackson said.
Jun 24, 2011 at 8:51 a.m.
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Gee, free health and dental checkups. It would actually be worth something if Dr. Smith and his local cohorts would accept MA and indigent patients, so that once they know what's wrong with their teeth they could actually do something about it.
Jun 23, 2011 at 10:25 a.m.
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GF-Thanks for the laugh, no doubt about it. Great Cubs season huh? Wait till next year.
Jun 23, 2011 at 9:28 a.m.
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bibledude, confess: Pastor Michael Jackson would pack the church every Sunday if he did the moonwalk during his sermon, right?
Jun 22, 2011 at 10:21 a.m.
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futurerichguy>> AMEN!!
Jun 21, 2011 at 11:42 p.m.
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Great event! Thanks Pastor Jackson and all of New Life family!
Jun 21, 2011 at 8:06 p.m.
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GF! How are you my man? I was at the game Sunday night, good seats, good weather, bad results.
bibledude, rein it in a little bit: no one likes a know-it-all. if you say so
Are atheists welcome at the fireworks display? Yup
Did god ever tell Zambrano that it's not polite to point? If he did he's not listening:)
Jun 21, 2011 at 5:56 p.m.
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bibledude, rein it in a little bit: no one likes a know-it-all.
Are atheists welcome at the fireworks display?
Did god ever tell Zambrano that it's not polite to point?
Jun 21, 2011 at 5:09 p.m.
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We love Freedom Fest! Cant wait to take the kids.
Jun 21, 2011 at 3:39 p.m.
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"Free Dumb Fest" is more like it.
This is just one more example of why religious (or is it... Religulous?!) organizations need to be taxed. if they can afford large property holdings, electric signs with time & temp, and thousand of dollars in noisy, smokey fireworks in their campaign of proselytizing (with the emphasis on "sell"!), they can pay their fair share in taxes!
Bottom line - this is a business operating under the (dis)guise of religion (as most are).
Jun 21, 2011 at 2:27 p.m.
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deltafox-where did I misspell? That would be ironic.
frusion- You're good. X is the Greek letter Chi which is an accepted abbreviation for Christ.
futurerichguy- spelling helps but keep reading to verse 26, its good news. I'd still tell you to go for it!
Jun 21, 2011 at 1:26 p.m.
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bibledude, you're telling me I need to learn how to spell in order to get rich? Let me remind you, "And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a RICH man to enter into the kingdom of God." (Matt. 19:24)
Sew eye shud bee great full I kant spel!
Jun 21, 2011 at 1:04 p.m.
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Good event/fundraiser - lots of fun for the kids, and we appreciate New Life for opening this to everyone in town. Would love to see some different food vendors this year other than the standard pizza/italian sub vendors with their overpriced and tasteless foods. Other than the food, the event is great!
Jun 21, 2011 at 12:56 p.m.
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Keep up the Great Work.
Jun 21, 2011 at 12:22 p.m.
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I believe the spelling is "xian" propaganda
Jun 21, 2011 at 11:53 a.m.
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Thank you Pastor Jackson and New Life !
Jun 21, 2011 at 11:31 a.m.
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bibledude-
"futurerichguy- you may not be rich in the future unless you learn to spell. I believe the word is spelled "free." They do have other drinks there for a "fee" but I doubt "Kool-Aid" is on of them."
You're so cool calling futurerichguy out on his spelling then misspelling yourself! HAHA
Jun 21, 2011 at 11:14 a.m.
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futurerichguy- you may not be rich in the future unless you learn to spell. I believe the word is spelled "free." They do have other drinks there for a "fee" but I doubt "Kool-Aid" is on of them.
Jun 21, 2011 at 10:06 a.m.
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Do they serve fee Cool-Aid at this event?
Jun 21, 2011 at 8:57 a.m.
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More exciting x-ian propaganda from the Janesville Gazette.
Freedom isn't free, it cost folks like you and me...and if you don't put in your buck-o-five, who will?
Jun 21, 2011 at 7:15 a.m.
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You got Doyle Hargraves livin' next to you?
Jun 21, 2011 at 7:11 a.m.
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The comments below are all about a very family oriented event which is based in Christian ideals: Liberty, Freedom, Faith, Family and Community. Those who would come here and trample on those ideals are the ones we need to be concerned about and pray for. Funny that non of them have come here to trash this event, for they know they’d have no basis to put forth a finding of fault. I too, salute New Life Church and their effort to promote Freedom and decency in a city impoverished of those gifts.
Jun 21, 2011 at 6:56 a.m.
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Thankyou New Life- our whole community can learn from your attitude towards others. Where do I send a donation?
Jun 21, 2011 at 2:14 a.m.
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Wanna raise some money for charity start a beer tent. Maybe get some big music acts, Metallica and the like. Gonna raise some money for charity, gotta think BIG!!
Being a little silly here, this is a very nice event that is great for the community. Unfortunately my hillbilly neighbors use it as an excuse to invite all their redneck buds over and have a guitar hero session in their garage. I live very close, can see them from my yard. Unfortunately rednecks are everywhere, wonder if Ill be calling the police again this year?
Jun 21, 2011 at 1:57 a.m.
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FreedomFest is the only celebration I go to. It's family friendly, no drinkin' and plenty of security and activities for kids of all ages. Not to mention praising God for all that He gives us most importantly and celebrating our freedom in His presence is more rewarding than sitting around a bunch of loud mouth drunks cussin' and swearin'
Jun 20, 2011 at 9:07 p.m.
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Every year I attend and every year I leave speechless. This event and the people of New Life are amazing and continue to give back to this community.
Jun 20, 2011 at 6:05 p.m.
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Its not a matter of "free" its safe its a good message it truely is about family.I will be bringing a few disabled kids that couldnt afford to otherwise and of course I will be making a donation its not much but I do my best
B
Jun 20, 2011 at 5:39 p.m.
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best event around hands down!!! My daughter is now 3 and i've taken her every year. She loves it!! and best of all it's free!! oh ya, and the great food at great prices! LOVE IT
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