Soul Survivor coming to Peterborough
Soul Survivor is pulling up its tent pegs and moving its main venue next year (2017); Momentum to be replaced by an all age event focused on the Holy Spirit
Currently weeks B and C of the popular Christian youth festival take place at Somerset’s Bath and West Showground.
Next year they will be staged at the East of England Showground’s Peterborough Arena.
'We hope [the change] will make it easier for many who come to our events as well as for new friends to join us,' said Soul Survivor’s Liza Hoeksma.
'We’ve loved our summers at the Bath & West Showground but are really excited about this new chapter in Peterborough.'
A Facebook post added, ‘We can’t wait to show you our new place. It's totally brilliant, perfect for our events and will host all our favourite venues plus so much more! Centrally located, in the heart of the country, it's really accessible with great transport links too!’
The showground also includes a purpose built arena for the main meetings.
Week A of Soul Survivor will continue to be hosted in the Stafford Showground. Soul Survivor Scotland, which is in its third year, is due to continue as it was.
Soul Survivor has also announced that Momentum, its festival for 20-30s, will be replaced next year by an all age event called Naturally Supernatural. It explained in another Facebook post there will still be lots of provision specifically for 20s and 30s, but that the organisation had ‘an increasing passion to encourage the church to move in the ministry of the Holy Spirit.’
‘We’re really passionate about equipping the whole church to move in the ministry and power of the Holy Spirit, so this will be our first summer conference for all ages,' said Liza.
‘We’re really keen that everyone who has enjoyed Momentum comes along to Naturally Supernatural. We’d love to keep journeying with all those who have been to Momentum over the years and hope they will come and join us as we learn and grow together.’ There will be Momentum camping villages so that 20s and 30s can camp together, as well as venues and social events the same as those at previous Momentum festivals.
The main meetings will look at what the Bible says about leading supernatural lives, as well as having prayer and worship time. Workshops will teach on subjects, including how to hear God and how to pray for physical and emotional healing. The aim is to provide opportunities for all who attend to put into practice what they have learnt, so they return home more confident.
The event will take place at the start of the summer (22-27 July), unlike Momentum, which has been held at the end of August. Like Soul Survivor Weeks B and C, it too is moving from the Bath Showground, and will be held in Stafford.
Responding to concerns about a clash with New Wine, Mike Pilavachi said, ‘The end of August at Shepton Mallet was just not working. The site was a mess and the weather was too often either wet or cold. Stafford is a much better site for us although it will be sad to leave Somerset.’
By Kira Taylor
Baptist Times, 15/08/2016