The vision is threefold:
- Pentecost Festival is a challenge to the Church to engage with the world.
- Pentecost Festival is a celebration of the Church’s birthday.
- Pentecost Festival is an opportunity for people of no faith and other faiths to discover more about Jesus.
Below is an excerpt from ‘The Church has left the building’, written by Rob Frost the Festival Founder;
“I saw artists of every kind filling the streets. Big graffiti style creations and fine oils on canvas. Great tapestries, and projects with lots of ordinary people ‘having a go.’ Telling God’s story in pictures and symbols that anyone could understand. I heard musicians, bands playing on the street corner, classical ensembles in shady city squares, and people singing. Gospel, barbershop, choirs and soloists, and young people rappin’ in shop doorways. Praising God in a cacophony of beautiful harmony.
I smelt hot food drawing me towards a square filled with delicious tastings from all over the world. Rice and peas, curry, French fries, and big steaming silver bowls of Chinese food. The cultures of the world offering free food in celebration of the One who gave it. And in among it all there was dance, from ballett to contemporary dance, from liturgical to Latin, Salsa, Ballroom, street and hip-hop. A long conga was winding its way through the crowd. All celebrating the One who is Lord of the Dance of Life.
Somewhere in the distance church bells rang out the grandeur of God, and the roar of a crowd indicated that there was a football competition or sports tournament for inner city kids not far away. Floating in on the gentle breeze was the sound of a theatre company in full swing with laughter in the air. Round the corner a lorry appeared with a jazz band rockin’ on its long trailer decking.
I passed a pub, and inside a crowd of people were hearing eminent scientists debating the mysteries of the universe. In an up-market wine bar three Christian politicians were debating the great challenges of the day in front of an audience who’d never seen anything like it. In a restaurant people were ‘eating simply’ as they discussed the ravages of world hunger. In a bookshop an audience was applauding a lecture on climate change, seeking to serve the ‘greater good’ rather than just the agenda of their own board. And what’s surprised me most has been the encouragement of senior police officers, council officials, tourist board project manager and transport representatives who’ve all said “this is just what London needs.”
Rob Frost- Pentecost Festival Founder
To order a copy of the Pentecost Festival book ‘ The Church has left the building’ by Rob And Andy Frost and to view other SJI publications Click Here.
