An A-Z guide to all the UK's Christian festivals and conventions, large and small.



Continued from page 1

FIRM FOUNDATIONS
Date: 23-26 May 2003
Title: Pushing The Boundaries
Location: Felden Lodge, Hemel Hempstead, Herts
Cost: £51 for BB/GB members, £57 for non BB/GB members
Target: 14 and their leaders
Confirmed speakers/artists: Robin Mark, Dawn Reynolds, Denis Pethers, Pete McCahon, Jon Stannard, Adrian Pumphrey, Saltmine Theatre Company, B5, Coastal Dune, Well Driven, Spoon, Leaph, Malcolm Evans, KJC, D.tunes
Vision: ³Firm Foundations is a ready-made event aimed particularly at the 14 age group and leaders who work with young people in this age group. The event starts early and runs through to the early hours of each day. Firm Foundations regulars find that the event adds an extra dynamic to their work with young people presenting them with an additional challenge about the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is plenty available for the leaders too. Whilst the BB and GB run the event jointly, Firm Foundations is open to non-Brigade members. A crèche and children's programme is provided for leaders' children, leaving them free to enjoy the festival.²

FLAMES OF FIRE
Date/s: 2-8 August 2003
Title/Theme: Here I Am
Location: Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Mid Wales
Cost: £80
Target: Charismatic Christians of all ages
Confirmed speakers/artists: Roger and Faith Forster, Christina Baxter,
Stuart Bell
Vision: ³Focusing this year on our willingness to be servants of God using the gifts he has given to extend the Kingdom of Jesus.²

Festival: Manchester
Festival: Manchester

FOCUSFEST
Date/s: 20-21 June 2003
Title/Theme: Breaking Free: Making Freedom In Christ A Reality Of Life
Location: Kings Hall, Belfast
Cost: £30
Target: Women of all ages
Confirmed speakers/artists: Beth Moore, Remission
Vision: ³Taking a journey to discover true Christian freedom. Our new venue enables us to offer a choice of 10 seminars all on vital topics. Beth Moore is a dynamic Bible teacher. Remission brings a new and different flavour to our praise and worship.²

GRAPEVINE INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATION
Date/s: 22-26 August 2003
Location: The Lincolnshire Showground, Lincoln
Cost: Day ticket £15, Camping fees - phone for brochure
Target: All ages
Confirmed speakers: Stuart Bell, Heidi Baker, Greg Haslam, Gerald Coates, Steve Chalke, Tony Morton, Paul Dando
Vision: ³Grapevine is a family camp in its 21st year, committed to providing an environment in each of the venues in which people of all ages can find themselves closer to God, growing in their faith and fellowship. You can join us by camping, visiting daily or staying in our off site bed and breakfast accommodation.

GRASSROOTZ
Date/s: 19 July 2003
Title/Theme: Something for everyone - what's your flavour?
Location: Eridge Estate nr Tunbridge Wells
Cost: TBC
Target: Young people / Family / Churched and non-churched
Confirmed speakers/artists: The Tribe, MiC, The London Community Gospel Choir, Cathy Burton, Steve, Cephas, Cashu, StrangeDay, Tommy Baker
Vision: ³Grassrootz:03 is the third one-day music festival near Tunbridge Wells in Kent and is closely associated with the established and highly successful monthly ID event. Grassrootz this year will be focusing on the fact that Christian music is as varied as secular, with jazz funk to dance to rock to punk, etc. This festival will appeal across the board, with entertainment and music for people of all ages, and yet with one clear message that Jesus Christ is Saviour and Lord.²

GREENBELT
Date/s: 22-25 August 2003
Title/Theme: Diving For Pearls - 30th special
Location: Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham
Cost: From £30, Day tickets £10
Target: All ages
Confirmed speakers/artists: Kathy Galloway, Dave Andrews, Lavinia Byrne, Mike Yaconelli, William Dalrymple, Abuna Elias Chacour, John Bell, and Robert Beckford
Vision: "Greenbelt is an independent Christian charity working to express love, creativity and justice in the arts and contemporary culture in the light of the Christian Gospel. A diverse four day festival of music, art, theatre, worship, talks and campaigns for all ages, Greenbelt is an exploration of Christianity and contemporary culture, with an inclusive two-way dialogue. This year Greenbelt celebrates its 30th festival."

Firm Foundations
Firm Foundations

H3
Date/s: 5-6 July 2003
Title/Theme: Two stages showcasing Christian music
Location: Bradwell Abbey, Milton Keynes
Cost: From £10 per day, adults £15 weekend
Target: All ages
Confirmed speakers/artists: TBC
Vision: Building upon last year's success, the aims are to provide a non-intimidating yet non-compromising environment where both Christians and non-Christians can relax and to raise funds for the Bridgebuilder Trust. A family event featuring great music, Sunday morning service and closing worship. Full facilities in a fabulous location.

HARVEST
Date/s: 22-27 August 2003
Title/Theme: Rooted in Heaven, Shaking the Earth
Location: Witton Castle, Co Durham
Cost: From £50
Target: 12-20 youth leaders
Confirmed speakers/artists: Tim Hughes, Mike Pilavachi, Mark Ritchie, Yfriday
Vision: ³Harvest, established 17 years ago, seeks to equip and empower young Christians to stand firm in their faith and, as a result, make an impact in the world around them. Harvest is about meeting with God through worship, getting into his Word and letting the Holy Spirit work in our lives. Harvest also runs dynamic workshops in the creative arts and a specific programme for youth leaders.²

HEAVEN ON EARTH
Date/s: 23-29 August 2003
Location: Iona Abbey and MacLoud Centre
Cost: £230
Target: People involved in worship
Confirmed speakers/artists: Wild Goose Resource Group
Vision: ³A gathering to celebrate, explore and discover new possibilities for the Church at worship.²

KESWICK 2003
Date/s: 12 July-1 August 2003
Title/Theme: Base Camp To Summit
Location: Keswick, Cumbria
Cost: Free. Accommodation separate
Target: All ages
Confirmed speakers/artists: Charles Price, Joe Stowell, Vaughan Roberts, Peter Maiden, Terry Virgo, Steve Chalke, Doug & Sue Barnett, Steve Brady, Patrick Johnstone, Dave Fenton, Jonathan Lamb, Bruce Kuhn, Elaine Duncan, Martin & Ann Allen, John Ortberg
Vision: "The Keswick Convention is committed to the deepening of the spiritual life in individuals and church communities through the careful exposition and application of Scripture. Join us in the Lakes this Summer and be a part of the Keswick experience in 2003 ­ combining life-changing Bible teaching, fellowship and worship with a wonderful holiday! There is something for everyone at Keswick - families, kids klubs and a brilliant youth programme - come and see for yourself!²

FocusFest
FocusFest

KINGDOM FAITH
Date/s: 26 July-2 August 2003
Title/Theme: Living In The Glory
Location: East of England Showground, Peterborough
Cost: From £80
Target: All ages
Confirmed speakers/artists: Colin Urquhart, John Bevere
Vision: ³After the wonderful move of God at Faith ¹02, Living In The Glory seems the appropriate title for Faith ¹03! Increasingly we are touching God¹s glory and his glory is invading our lives at Kingdom Faith. This is leading to significant practical results, as we seek to express the life of his Kingdom in our daily lives and relationships.²

LIVING WATER
Date/s: 9-13 August 2003
Title/Theme: Hungry For God
Location: The Norfolk Showground nr Norwich
Cost: From £5
Target: All ages
Confirmed speakers/artists: TBC
Vision: The Living Water event seeks to create an opportunity for people to meet with Jesus, experience the Father-heart of God and encounter the power of the Holy Spirit. Our vision is to see people encounter God's transforming love and power that changes not only them, but makes an impact in the life of the Church and the wider community. We welcome people from all parts of the UK and further afield but have a particular heart to see a move of God across East Anglia. We invite you to join us for Living Water 2003 as we explore our theme, Hungry For God, with a mix of worship, teaching and ministry. Whether you come to Living Water on your own, in a family or with your church, there is something for everyone of all ages.

M2K3
Date/s: 2-9 August
Title/Theme: Meltdown 2003
Location: Lancaster University, Lancaster
Cost: From £19; Day ticket £10
Target: Sessions for 11-17, 18-35, university students and leaders
Confirmed speakers/artists: The Tribe, Glyn Barrett, Simon Jarvis, Derek Smith, Stuart Keir, Mark Hirst, Phil Dooley
Vision: ³Connecting you with destiny, connecting you with people, connecting you with faith, connecting you with your world, make a difference, make the connection at M2K3. This is not a conference, this is not a youth camp, this is the experience that will change your life and impact you, your friends, your church and your nation!

MAGNIFY
Date/s: 19-21 September 2003
Location: Stroud, Gloucester
Cost: From £3
Target: Teenagers upwards
Confirmed speakers/artists: TBC
Vision: "Magnify" - verb archaic EXTOL, EXALT [Latin: related to magnificent]. ³This reflects our aim of networking local evangelical believers together to lift up the name of Jesus in prayer, praise and proselytisation (OK, outreach). So far we have organised a yearly festival but other events are being considered.²

MELTDOWN
Date/s: 14-16 November 2003
Title/Theme: Birth Of Jesus
Location: Quinta Christian Centre, Nr Oswestry
Cost: £88
Target: Hard music lovers
Confirmed speakers/artists: Pastor Bob Beeman, Jeff Scheetz, Jim LaVerde, Gen
Vision: ²For the past 14 years the Meltdown conference has provided ministry and music to people whose musical taste is for the hard, heavy or alternative. The conference is small being able to accommodate only 105 guests maximum and this is the way we like it. A small conference enables us to offer an informal friendly setting where all the guests can get to know each other and build lasting friendships in the small Christian hard music sub culture. We intend to go ahead without making too many changes to the format and size of the event. Meltdown is unique among the UK Christian music festivals and we intend it to remain unique.²

NEW EDEN
Date/s: 5-6 July 2003
Location: Torre Abbey Meadows, Torquay, Devon
Cost: Free
Target: All ages, Christian and non-Christian
Confirmed speakers/artists: As If, Maddy Leigh Blues Band, Heartstrings, Escapade, John Brydon, XMY
Vision: ³The festival's aim is to showcase the Christian arts as a way of outreach and to challenge people outside the Church about their perception of what Christianity is.²