By Lora Scripps
lora@athensnews-courier.com
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The 14th annual SoulStock, a two-day concert event, is scheduled Saturday and Sunday at Spirit of America Field in Point Mallard Park in Decatur. More than 20,000 are expected to attend North Alabama’s largest free outdoor Christian music festival — SoulStock 2012: Our Hope Secured.
Five-time Grammy Award winner Steven Curtis Chapman and alternative-pop-rock Christian band Superchick will headline this year’s event. Friday’s lineup includes contemporary singer-songwriter Lindsay McCaul (www.lindsaymccaul.com), modern pop/rock/worship Caleb (www.calebmusic.com), and Steven Curtis Chapman (www.stevencurtischapman.com). Set to perform on Saturday are pop band Luminate (www.luminatemusic.com), contemporary artists MIKESCHAIR (www.mikeschair.com), Australian alternative pop group For King and Country (www.forkingandcountry.com), Britt Nicole (www.brittnicole.com), and Superchick (www.superchickonline.com). Each night Chris Wheeler (www.chriswheeler.org) will be speaking and Geoff Moore (www.geoffmoore.com) will be guest host.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday with both evenings wrapping up by 11 p.m.
Admission is free. Standard parking is free. Premium parking will be available for $5 per vehicle. Handicap parking is available for vehicles with handicap permit. Bus parking is also available.
Festival attendees are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs. A variety of food vendors will be available to suit any taste including hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue, Cajun food, pizza, funnel cakes, dipping dots, and others. Liquid refreshment includes soft drinks, water, lemonade, smoothies, etc.
Local churches from a number of counties and denominations are sponsoring the event.
SoulStock’s Partners in Ministry are ShowHope, Soles4Souls and Hands in Motion. Attendees are encouraged to bring gently worn or new shoes for Soles4Souls.
For more information, go to www.soulstock.com.
History of SoulStock
In the spring of 1998, Valley Church in Athens decided to have a youth rally in the field behind their church called “Rockin’ for Jesus.” About 175 folks showed up. After it was over, some of the people that attended suggested that they put on a show again the next year and voluntered to help. So in 1999, the name and location changed and SoulStock was born.
Organizers said the plan from the very beginning was to use the event to stress unity among all believers and use it as an opportunity to show Christ to the community. The SoulStock mission statement is, “To plant the seed of Jesus Christ in the hearts of our youth and to promote a spirit of unity among all who put their trust in Him.”
SoulStock started as something tossed together in the backyard. However, attendance has continued to grow. By 2008, the event had grown to around 20,000 participants. SoulStock has outgrown two venues. The current facility, Spirit of America Field at Point Mallard in Decatur gave organizers room to expand the event and make plans for the future.
