CREATION NORTHEAST 2012 will be held June 27 to June 30, 2012 at the Agape Farm near Mt. Union, Penn. The farm has become a second home to the tens of thousands who travel to the festival each year to attend, camp and to be spiritually enriched. 

 

Creation’s theme is “A Tribute to Our Creator.” From the moment you step on to the grounds and set up your camp, there is a sense that this place and this time is about Jesus. At times it feels like a family gathering because you get to meet and have fellowship with people from all over the globe who love the Lord. There are many activities, games, music and speakers, and of course those special times of fellowshipping with friends at your campfire.

 

A typical day starts at 9 a.m. and concludes at 11:30 p.m. This year’s main stage artists include some of the hottest bands in Christian music, representing a wide variety of musical styles. Creation also provides inspiring speakers who will help encourage you in your spiritual journey. 

 

Other highlights include fan favorites such as communion, candlelighting, baptism, artist meet-and-greets, fireworks, extreme sports and the like. The Fringe Stage is a place to rock out with the best alternative and up-and-coming bands. The Worship Stage features worship artists who give you time to worship the Lord while providing free workshops and worship materials. 
 

The Kid's Stage ensures that young children have a good time with music, puppets, animals, games, face painting and more. A night at Creation 2012 is rounded out with the Late Night Cafe, which winds down the day in an intimate setting and boasts of singers and comedians along with some coffee and donuts! Our prayer for Creation Northeast 2012 is that people will be changed, restored and encouraged to serve the Lord and to make a difference in this world.

 

The stated purpose of Creation is to present the Gospel through music, teaching and any other creative means so that those attending will be drawn to salvation and discipleship in Christ. We come together by the thousands to "Give Tribute to Our Creator" and to allow His Spirit to birth many as "new Creations" in Jesus Christ who will love and serve Him (Colossians 1:15-18).

 

Creation's vision is: "Payerfully we believe God to be exalted during our time together and for those attending Creation Festivals to unreservedly submit to Christ as Lord and Savior. Through music, worship and Christ-centered teaching we believe that Christ will be exalted and committed believers will change the world with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ."
 

 

And the festival's statement of belief reads: "We believe the greatest news to ever come to mankind is the Love of God demonstrated through the sending his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus lived a sinless life, he died a cruel death on a cross, bearing the sins of the entire world. Death did not conquer Jesus and he was raised from the dead. Out of this same Love of God he has sent the Holy Spirit to indwell the life of the believer and to spiritually equip us to carry the message of Christ to the world until Christ returns."

 

Two staff members from NewReleaseTuesday.com will be in attendance at the Creation Northeast festival, including NRT Lead Contributor Kevin Davis (me)--who will be conducting artist interviews and writing feature articles along with NRT photographer David Holzemer. Several other staffers will attend Creation Northwest in Enumclaw, Wash., including NRT Founder Kevin McNeese and Senior Editor Marcus Hathcock, who also will conduct interviews. 

 

I had the great chance to interview Creation Festival General Manager Bill Darpino about what to expect this year at the 2012 event.

 

 

The HM Stage,  Creation Serves--Which is a sock and food drive project--a new main stage look. Come out and be the first to see it! World Vision will be there this year as our child sponsorship partner. They will be offering some new and powerful experiences such as the World Vision AIDS Experience display and Jamma Unplugged--an interactive movie and worship experience--to help bring greater awareness and understanding of what is happening in the world. Our desire is to continue to make a greater impact in the lives of children all over the globe. 

 

There'll be an expanded worship stage experience. We have a more extensive lineup of worship artists to create a longer and very impactful time of worship and fellowship each afternoon on the worship stage. We're expanding the indie stage, so you can see many new and rising bands and artists from around the region and country.  

 

Nick Vujicic will be at Creation East and returning to Creation West. As the Founder of Life Without Limbs, Nick's story is not only powerful but life-changing. 

 

We're introducing the Creation Festival App, which you can download now from the iTunes App Store. On our website we have a 10-day devotional that will help prepare you for this year's festival, as well as support and challenge you during festival as you experience all that Creation has to offer.

 

 

One of the exciting things we are doing new this year is a non-perishable food and sock drive. Our goal is for Creation Festivals to serve and minister to those around the areas in which each festival is held. We are partnering with Central PA Food Bank (Northeast) and Seattle's Union Gospel Mission (Northwest) to help facilitate the distribution. Each has been serving the community for a long time. We want to come alongside them, helping meet this very tangible need. And these were just two of the top needs listed. The ultimate goal is to reach them with the love of Christ and for them to respond to that love; however sometimes the road starts with a can of food or a pair of socks. We continue to evaluate how we can impact the communities around each event with the love of Christ.

 

The devotional was prepared in partnership with our good friends at Interlink. They help to assist youth leaders and youth to grow their faith. They will be once again hosting our Youth Leaders & Pastors VIP Lounge. This devotional will be a great tool for anyone and is available on our website at creationfest.com.

 

Regarding headliner bands Switchfoot and Thousand Foot Krutch, I'm excited to see these talented best-selling artists at Creation. I love that these bands--which have each had mainstream success--are on the main stage along with CCM heavyweights David Crowder, TobyMac, Newsboys and Chris Tomlin. 
 

 

 

 

It is our hope that both those who have experienced the saving power of the cross and those who have not are equally inspired and have opportunity to hear the Gospel and respond to it. We aim to have artists such as Switchfoot and Thousand Foot Krutch who have had success in the mainstream along with artists like TobyMac and Newsboys--who are staples in the Christian market--in order to reach a broader spectrum of people. All of these artists have a heart and message that is consistent and in line with the mission of the festival as we all try to further the Gospel and offer hope and life through Jesus Christ.

 

 

We take months to review, research, pray about and finally prepare a program that meets the purpose and facilitates the vision of Creation Festival. We try to construct a schedule that we feel will offer adults and youth alike the premiere Christian Music Festival experience at a premiere destination for a week out of their summer. We want our staff, the program and the events of the week to present Christ through our actions and love, wherever possible, and to give tribute to our Creator. We present the Gospel every day from the moment the stage starts to the very last act. This ministry focus is accomplished in many ways, however some of the highlights would be through speaker sessions on the main stage, afternoon conference seminars, the worship Stage, Celebrate Recovery meetings, Youth Leader & Pastor talk-back sessions, kids and family ministries, the prayer tent, World Vision experiences, and of course the many amazing ministry times and opportunities that happen all week at your campsite. 

 

Creation is not just another festival. It is a Life Changing experience that can only be understood once you are there with the other tens of thousands of believers. Creation is open and available to all who would want to come and we know that this will be the "Highlight of Your Summer, Maybe Your Life!"