His Glory Ministries and Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) invite the public to the second annual Christian BandFest, Saturday, June 5, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. in Bull Run Regional Park.
Besides offering a full day of live, contemporary, Christian music and fun, the event also benefits WFCM's food pantry.
Admission is nonperishable items for the pantry, and WFCM executive director Dorothy Fonow said food for local needy families is greatly needed. As it is, WFCM is providing an average of 300 families a month with more than 1,000 bags of food.
"Our canned goods are very low — the pantry shelves are almost empty," said Fonow. "And because children will soon be out of school for the summer, we'll also need kid-friendly food."
Especially needed, she said, are canned pasta meals, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti sauce, canned fruit, fruit juices, canned tuna and salmon, and other canned meats such as corned beef and Spam. Baby formula is needed, too, as are boxes of dry cereal.
"Breakfast cereal is at an all-time low," said Fonow. "Any type would be fine." (Those not able to attend the band festival, but wishing to help may bring items to the WFCM's Shepherd Center at 13981 Metrotech Drive in Chantilly, near Midas Muffler and Backyard Grill & Bar).
"I'm hoping the band fest is successful this year because we were rained out, last year," she said. "And besides, the music is fabulous — really incredible."
Looking on the bright side, the event's organizers plan to hold it, rain or shine. Attendees are encouraged to bring picnic lunches and lawn chairs. Grills and bathrooms will be available, and the nearby playground and pool will be open.
Performing will be Rob Carroll, Kim Black, Peter Hamm, His Glory Band and One Voice, a worship team from the International Baptist Church in Manassas. Through his music, Carroll shares what God has done in his life. "I was once a famous musician with a need for nothing," he explained. "I lost everything I had to drugs, and ... God brought me out of a darkness and into the most wonderful life and love."
Black says God gave her the gift to sing and write songs but, for most of her life, she didn't sing for Him. Instead, she sang secular music, mostly Top 40, R&B, funk and jazz. "I primarily sang with bands in clubs and at cabarets and social events," she said. "It was this training ground that prepared me for this ministry to glorify Jesus Christ."
A Centreville resident for 15 years, Peter Hamm is youth pastor and worship leader at Centreville Community Church. He's been writing, performing and recording songs for more than 20 years and has appeared in many different venues. He now heads a trio, which includes his brother Phil on bass guitar and Hugh Talman on drums.
Cheryl and Melvin Hardy run His Glory Ministries out of their Centre Ridge home, and His Glory Band praises God with original, contemporary, worship songs. "Our desire is to see people drawn into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ," said Cheryl. "Each of our band members attends a different church; however, we are all a part of one body — the body of Christ."