Tens of thousands of people attended Festival Manchester – the biggest Christian mission in the North West, with organisers reporting that 3,472 responded to the Gospel.
The three-day event in the city’s Wythenshawe Park was hosted in partnership with The Message Trust and the Luis Palau Association.
Organised by hundreds of churches, businesses and charities from July 1-3, Festival Manchester included a high-tech gaming lobby, a fun fair, family fun zone, white knuckle sports zone as well as performances from Christian artists on the main stage as well as a Gospel message each night.
Evangelist Andrew Palau who was one of the main speakers said people need to hear about the hope in Christ more than ever before.
“For those who don’t know Jesus Christ yet, you come out of a season like this wondering if all these things I put my faith in have failed me, what really lasts, is there anything I can put my feet on that is solid. And we’re here to say we’ve been through that, we feel it and all we’ve had is Jesus Christ and the Word of God and we want to tell you about that. So this is a season that the Lord has designed for us to come right out of Covid and be ready for this moment. And the best is yet to come. There’s more to go”, Palau said.
“As is always the case, when the Church comes together in unity, serving the city, encouraging the body, and proclaiming the good news boldly, great things happen. And that is exactly what we saw here in Manchester”.
“I love the United Kingdom and I love serving the region with our many friends and ministry partners. A big thanks to The Message Trust and all the local church partners for inviting the Luis Palau Association to help with this city-wide effort. What a joy to see the many lives changed through the proclaimed word of God.”
Message Trust Founder and CEO Andy Hawthorne is hoping to see a long-term impact in this part of the UK beyond the festival.
“Well, always the dream is so much more than lots of people becoming Christians at Wythenshawe Park. That’s amazing that could happen, but we want to see a whole region transformed. We want to see the spiritual climate change and it is happening in Manchester”.
The music lineup included Matt Redman, Guvna B, Lecrae, Kingdom Choir and more.
“This is what Festival Manchester was all about – introducing people to Jesus and seeing lives changed both now and for eternity. I honestly believe we got to be part of something huge that God is doing,” Mr Hawthorne added.
(Picture Courtesy: The Message Trust)
