Festival Manchester is here, and the build-up events sharing the good news of Jesus with people across the North West have begun!
From skate jams and banquets for those experiencing homelessness, to gala dinners, prisons outreach and an amazing ladies event at the Hilton (see the photo above), we’re taking mission to the next level in these last few days before Festival Manchester hits Wythenshawe Park this weekend.
Last Thursday our teams ran an epic skate jam for skaters at Projekts in Manchester City Centre. As people showed their tricks, flips and stunts, Amongst Wolves, Ben from SoulBox and Nick Shalavi shared their music and stories.
Throughout the evening, the gospel was shared and our teams were able to pray with people and invite them along to the festival weekend. As they chatted, 11 people gave their lives to Jesus and even more signed up to find out more about Jesus! It was incredible to feel the atmosphere change in the place, and for there to be such open conversations about faith. Off the back of the event, a local church are planning to run a Youth Alpha course at the Projekts to continue to reach out to the skate community. Check out some of the highlights of the event below:
Friday we held a Gala Dinner. The outreach event saw men and women invited to enjoy an evening of great food, entertainment and the gospel under the wings of Concorde. As people heard about the hope Jesus offers shared by Sir Brian Souter and Andrew Palau, they got to respond to it.
On Saturday, one of the festival’s banquets for those in the city experiencing homelessness took place. As people came along, the team were able to bless them, give them a three-course meal and tell them how loved they are by Jesus. Do be praying as more banquets run over the next few days.
And that’s not all! As part of Love Where U Live, we also held a banquet for sex workers in the city. As women came along, they were given a three-course dinner, luxury gift bags and could choose clothes and shoes to take away. During the event, Wendy Palau shared her testimony and about the love and hope of Jesus. As they heard her speak, some of the women were moved to tears hearing of the love that Jesus offers. One woman said it was the best day of her life and ‘I feel so safe here and I don’t feel safe anywhere. This has been an oasis in an otherwise dark time. I’m definitely going to church tomorrow, I don’t care which one but I’m going!’ How amazing!
Saturday was a busy day because on top of the banquets, we hosted a glamourous ladies’ event at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester where people invited their non-Christian friends for a night of entertainment and hope. 300 women from across the city came along and heard the gospel message. An amazing 69 women responded to the gospel or said they wanted to know more about Jesus – how incredible! Each of them is now getting connected with a local church for follow-up.
And we’re believing that this is just the start of what God’s going to do! Make sure to come along to Wythenshawe Park this weekend (Friday 1 – Sunday 3 July) for the North West’s biggest free music festival with fun for all the family.
