Christian fest offers music and more

Soulfest. Shoutfest. Kingdom Bound. Freedom Fest.

Christian music festivals around the country are offering crossover entertainment to millions of the faithful and nonfaithful, drawn by the energy and spirit of these large-scale, outdoor events.

Christian bands MxPx, Anberlin, Seventh Day Slumber, Sanctus Real, KJ-52, Hawk Nelson and Falling Up are among those headlining Freedom Fest this weekend. The Christian music festival will take over the 20-acre Stocker Farms festival field near the town of Snohomish from Friday through Sunday.

The nonprofit event features 42 bands, speakers, seminars, vendors offering everything from clothing to college applications, adventure challenges and even freestyle motocross events with world-record holder Ryan Capes and others.

Supported by 50 area churches, run by a staff of 30 and 300 volunteers, the event is expected to draw about 10,000 people, organizers say.

The festival attracts those of all ages and faiths, and while some arrive in church vans, "the majority of the people come in their own cars," said Holli deQuilettes, the festival administrator.

Even secular fans come.

"We call them prebelievers," said festival director Don deQuilettes, Holli's husband. "Some of them might have been disenfranchised with a church, or moved away from their church upbringing as they grew older. What we try to do is present the truth and the relevancy of the Gospel to today's life, and they can begin to reexperience that at Freedom Fest."

Many bands are considered crossover bands, spanning both Christian and secular markets.

One misnomer "is that Christian music equals boring," said Craig Plummer, a member of the leadership team coordinating the festival. "They need to come to our festival to learn it's just the opposite: We rock the house."

Plummer believes "you need to use unconventional means to reach people for the Lord."

"We want to connect people to God in everything we do," said Sean Wilkerson, the associate pastor at Snohomish First Assembly and the children's activities director. "The difference between Freedom Fest and a rock concert is that there's hope. We present a positive Gospel message that changes lives. Anybody can put on a concert series, but we want to present hope and a connection with God."

Professional motorcycle distance jumper Ryan Capes, son and grandson of pastors, made history last year when he jumped just over 310 feet at Pacific Raceways on Oct. 29. He said motocross "is another way to pull different types of people into a Christian event. What better than to have somebody to pray with and ask for advice and safety. It's powerful and moving."

Joseph Rojas knows that firsthand. He's the founder, songwriter and vocalist/guitarist of Seventh Day Slumber, a Nashville, Tenn.-based Christian band named in honor of the "day of rest" from the book of Genesis. The band plays at 7:45 p.m. Friday, and Rojas is also a featured speaker.

As an overweight kid growing up in Texas, Rojas said, he watched his father beat his mother, then abandon the family. He thought about suicide at 12 and turned to cocaine at 14, he said.

Eventually, "I had a $400-a-day cocaine addiction," he said. "I hated life." He didn't overcome his addiction until his 20s, when he overdosed in front of his mother and ended up in intensive care.

His first CD, "Picking Up the Pieces," recounted his struggles. The album sold thousands of copies and was nominated for a Dove award, the Christian music Grammy.

"Once Upon a Shattered Life," the band's second national album, was distributed by EMI on the BEC/Tooth & Nail record label. "Caroline," a single, topped the Christian rock charts for weeks.

The CD addresses suicide, drug addiction and other heavy topics.

"It's me telling the story of where I've been," Rojas said. "Here I am, looking back at remembrance. My heart is downcast, my soul grieves for all the years lost, but there's a future to look forward to."

Now 33, married with two children and a third on the way, he said his sense of reward is in the kids who come up and say, "I don't have to live life this way."

"I want to meet these kids where they're at," he said. "People can relate to the pain that's written in the music."

And there's no end of inspiration, he said.

"As long as there's people living, you'll have something to write about."

Diane Wright: 425-745-7815 or dwright@seattletimes.com