Smoky Mountain Winterfest 2004

Cup & Cross Ministries provided a helping hand at this year’s Winterfest in Knoxville, Tennessee. More than 20,000 young people and youth workers gathered in the Thompson Boling Arena for a spirit-filled, dynamic three-day weekend of worship and praise. Special guests included Jentezen Franklin, Karen Wheaton and Chosen, Reggie Dabbs, Heather Mercer, Christian Music Artists Kirk Franklin, and Israel Houghton and New Breed. Many spoke on how we are to be “real” in our Christian walk and that a religious experience alone will not suffice, but we need to have a personal relationship with an Almighty God.

The theme for this year’s event was “It’s a New Season”. This was taken from the scripture verse in Joel chapter two, “It shall come to pass in the last days that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, your sons and daughters will prophesy…” In this “New Season” the word did not return void. Hundreds of lives where changed at Winterfest and many were Baptized with the Holy Spirit. The corridors and aisles of the arena were filled with young people weeping before the Lord and speaking in a Heavenly language. The anointing and convicting spirit was so strong that it even drew into the service a man who was passing by the arena. After listening to the message, he asked to be prayed for and received Christ as his personal Savior.

In the midst of the hyped crowd and loud music with the big named guests, the most important of all and the purpose for such an event is that lives were changed and people were saved. Numerous resources and hours of hard work and preparation were invested into making such possible, but the end results were what made it all worthwhile. Cup & Cross Ministries is grateful and privileged to be a part of such a wonderful event