Ichthus ready for 36th event

WILMORE, Ky. -- Ichthus, the 35-year-old Christian rock festival, is back again this year on its 110-acre farm near here with more bands, more stages, more teachers and more innovations after the mud-splattered 2004 event attracted 15,000 mostly young worshipers.

More than 70 bands are scheduled for the April 21-24 event, including Michael W. Smith, Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, tobyMAC, Relient K, Pillar, Tait, Todd Agnew, Skillet, Kutless, Barlow Girl, Charlie Hall, Thousand Foot Krutch, Sanctus Real and John Reuben.

Keynote speakers include Duffy Robbins, Mike Breaux and Adrian Despres. Bob Smiley is the main-stage emcee.  In the weeks following last year’s rain-drenched event, reports flowed in of stunning salvation, deliverance and healing. Organizers said that in what seemed in the festival planners’ worst nightmare of rain, mud and failed sound systems, God’s provision was activated. This year, massive improvements have been made.

Ichthus began in 1970 through the insight and creativity of Bob Lyon, a Greek professor at Asbury Theological Seminary here, and a group of concerned students. It developed as a Christian reply and alternative to the historic and secular 1969 Woodstock rock festival in upstate New York.

The group spawned what has become the longest running Christian music festival in the nation. Their intent was to offer youth an alternative to the lifestyle and music choices which surrounded them in secular society. Ichthus and its goals continue unbroken to this day making it the longest continuously running Christian music festival in the nation.

Kevin Flynn, owner of Live Wire Coffee & Music, and former pastor at The River Ministries, both in Richmond, Ky., is a longtime Ichthus board member.

Jeff James, the concert’s current executive director, issued the 2005 invitation. “With renewed confidence in God’s goodness and His jealous love for you,” he said, “we submit to His providence and say, ‘Whatever you want, Lord, rain or shine, our foundation is in you.’”

Wilmore is 25 miles south of Lexington. Camping is available at the concert site, which is called Ichthus Farm.

Visit www.ichthus.org for registration and more information. Ichthus Ministries headquarters is at 201 S. Lexington Ave. in Wilmore, KY 40390. The telephone number is 859 858-3001.

(February 2005)