At the Alliant Energy Center — just across John Nolen Drive from Olin Park, where thousands of people once regularly gathered for the Wisconsin Sunday School Assembly meetings — a thousand people gathered this morning for a Brat Fest worship service.
“Welcome to the first-ever community wide worship service during Brat Fest,” said Blackhawk Fitchburg pastor John Rosensteel, as he gave a greeting to open the service at 8:45am.
A worship team composed of members of five Madison congregations led the singing: “The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning…”
A little after nine o’clock Laura Gallegher of the Creative Company introduced Harvey Carey, founder and Senior Pastor of the Citadel of Faith Covenant Church in Detroit Michigan. As a jet from the Dane County Regional Airport soared over the sunny Brat Fest grounds pastor Carey informed the possibly sleepy crowd: “I am your espresso, black with no cream, no sugar.”
A Sneak Preview
Most of the other Brat Fest activities didn’t start until 10am or later so the attendance was made up primarily of those who came specifically for the community wide worship service, from churches all over Madison. Responding to the diverse crowd, Carey said, “This is a sneak preview of coming attractions.”
“What if this became a catalyst for God’s people to come together more than for this one event? What if this is a catalyst for a movement of God in this city?” he asked, as the crowd erupted in applause and cheers.
Carey preached a salvation message based on Jesus’s conversation with Nicodemus, a leader of the Pharisees, in the Gospel of John, chapter 3. His title was Life’s Greatest Conversation. “There is no greater conversation that a conversation with God about our eternal destiny,” he said.
He noted that Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. “He was doing what we do, trying to find a way to God outside of God.” Referring to Jesus’ answer to a question from Nicodemus, Carey summarized: “How do you become born of the Spirit? You simply surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.”
Alex Gee, pastor of Foundatin of Life Covenant Church, continued the theme of making the community wide service at Brat Fest the start of something bigger in his corporate prayer at the end of the service. “Madison is at an important juncture,” he said. “The city will be different because of this.”
Gee prayed specifically for Brat Fest director Tim Metcalfe, admitting that he was skeptical when Metcalfe came to talk to him about the community wide worship service at Brat Fest. Gee prayed for Metcalfe and his vision for bringing the gospel to life in new and unique ways, adding a prayer for other Christian business leaders in Madison, that they would do the same.
The community wide worship service bore the title Encouraged by Hope.
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