June 27, 2009 - Spirit Midwest Ministries Festival

And the Headliners Are . . .

Post by Julie Barnes on Fri May 11th, 2012

Well, it's been a long road in getting the headliners set for Spirit Midwest 2012, but I think we're nearly there - and boy has it been worth the effort! We've got Todd Agnew, Manic Drive, The Museum, The Wedding and Willet secured so far and are working on Everyday Sunday. We also have over thirty other artists lined up - with more than a dozen in the process of being confirmed. This year is sure to be the biggest and best ever!

We're also excited about all the changes happening to the new festival grounds! The Amphitheater Main Stage area is shaping up nicely, the woods are looking beautiful for the Woods Stage and camping area and the Insider Stage is already set and ready to go! In fact, we're hoping to hold a concert in there next month, just to break it in!

Of course, there's still lots of work to do at the festival grounds so we could sure use your help. If you, your youth or young adult group - or any other group! - want to join us in preparing the grounds, we'd really appreciate it! Here are just a few of the areas in which we need help:

Install chain link fencing
-Cement posts in place
-Install gates
-Put up fence

Run electric to garage
-Trench 100’ to garage
-Install wire from sub panel in kitchen to sub panel in garage

Yard Lights
-Trench cable to light locations
-Cement light poles in ground
-Connect lights

Garden beds
-Till planting areas
-Plant flowers and bushes

Items needed
-125 ft of 2/2/4 urd aluminum cable (Available at Menards for $1.16/ft)
-500 ft of 12/3 UF with ground wire for yard lights (Available at Menards for $189 per 250’)
-12 slot sub panel for garage
-15 amp breakers for panel

While it may seem like you need to have "special skills" to do some of this work, there's an awful lot of labor in digging trenches and post holes, tilling the ground, etc. We can arrange a few hours of time for you or your group and target your work to whatever ability you have. We'd just so appreciate the help - there's a lot of work left to be done! But we know that God is in control and absolutely can't wait to see what He does with Spirit Midwest 2012! Mark your calendar - August 3 & 4, 2012 - 3357 St Charles Rd, St Charles, IA.

Give Al a call at 515.334.8000 to see how we can work together to make Spirit Midwest 2012 the best festival yet!

God's Abundant Provision!

Post by Julie Barnes on Wed Apr 4th, 2012

I've wanted to share this news for some time, but just haven't put it into words until tonight. God is so awesome that I just have to share this story . . . Picture this: It's Monday night, August 8, 2011, and our Spirit Midwest festival coordinators have just ended our debriefing meeting with the challenge to "Go and find a new site for the festival!" Much as we love the layout and location of the Jordan Park Camp, the fire marshal told us we won't be able to get away with our setup again in 2012, so the search was on...

I closed the door after walking the last person out, sat down in my chair, picked up my laptop and opened Outlook . . . What's the first thing I saw? I had a Facebook message! I love getting messages on Facebook! I immediately clicked the link and opened the text box: "Hi Julie, Give me a call on Monday. My boss has a property she thinks would be perfect for your festival." (Thanks Tammy!) What?!?! She didn't even know we were looking! How did this happen? Could this be God? (Did I really have to wonder?)

Well, over the course of the past several months, we have been amazed to learn just how abundantly God has provided! This family - Eric & Lorraine Rokitnicki and their daughter Renatta Bolen - have over 600 acres of land in St Charles. When they met us a few days later, they gave us a tour of the 87-acre site they envisioned for Spirit Midwest 2012! From the moment we stepped onto the field of the new Main Stage, we were overwhelmed. That feeling only grew as we walked the property and they shared their vision regarding the layout of the festival.

The Main Stage sits perfectly in the natural amphitheatre that faces Highway 50. The Insider (Metal/Alternative/Hard Rock) Stage will be in the sanctuary of the renovated event center directly west of the Main Stage. The Woods (Acoustic) Stage will be in the grove behind the Main Stage along with the new camping area! The parking fields line the highway to the east of the Main Stage. Wow! They - and God - had thought of everything!

However, most of this land has been completely undeveloped until now, which means there's lots of work to do. Eric and Lorraine have been grading, mowing, and filling ravines but there's so much more to be done. We're thrilled to already have one youth group adopting the festival grounds for a week this summer. Is there something you, your youth/young adult group or church can do to help? We'd love to put you to work! Give Al a call at 515.334.8000 to see how we can work together to make Spirit Midwest 2012 the best festival yet! 

Julie and Al Barnes are the founders of Spirit Midwest Ministries, which began in the summer of 2006. They have continued and expanded the ministry through faithful supporters like you. Read more of their blogs entries on the blogs page. SMW