WS Chronicle

Carla Fulton, with the Renaissance choir, leads a song during The Awakening Christian music festival at BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem on Saturday, Sept. 26. Renaissance, under the direction of Dionn “Maestro” Owen, will be at Gospel Fest at the Dixie Classic Fair on Sunday, Oct. 4. (photo submitted by Charles E. Leftwich Jr.) 

By Timothy Ramsey

For The Chronicle

Even with a constant downpour, Christian music fans battled the rain at last weekend’s Awakening Christian Music Festival at BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem on Saturday, Sept. 26.

Saturdays’ show was headlined by gospel music icon Kirk Franklin and Christian music band Mercy Me.

“The show was great, but this weather could’ve been better,” said Kevin Joyce, who came to see the band Mercy Me. “I’m glad Winton-Salem has something that Christians can come to as a family and enjoy music.”

While many fans huddled underneath the concourse, some fans braved the elements and sat in the stands – some in the field seats – to see and cheer on their favorite acts up close and personal. Everyone seemed to be in great spirits despite the rain.

“The music was fantastic,” said Travis Davis, who came out to see Kirk Franklin and Mercy Me with his girlfriend.

Kimberly White said the rain dampened the mood a little bit, but not too bad and was most excited to see one of her favorite bands, Mercy Me as well.

Kirk Franklin, who spoke with The Chronicle last week before the festival, said, “I want to make sure people feel unified, and celebrate a great sense of unity within the community, and I’m very glad to be a part of that.” Franklin also touched on his favorite Scripture: Romans 8:28, which reads: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (King James Version)

“They speak to that different place in your life, so for me, I enjoy them all,” Franklin said of the many facets of entertainment he is involved with. And his philosophy on life is: “Everything physical and visible is first preceded by that which is spiritual and invisible.”

Franklin and Mercy Me had the largest following of the acts that participated in the festival, but every performance was enjoyable and unique, especially Zealand Worship, a Contemporary Christian band, and the Renaissance Choir, which will be at Gospel Fest at the Dixie Classic Fair on Sunday, Oct. 4.

The festival concluded on Sunday, headlined by Jeremy Camp, an ordained minister with over 4 million albums sold.