The John 3:16 10th Annual Unity Fest will be May 30th at Riverside Park, Batesville, Arkansas. This celebration will be packed with a Christian atmosphere and music provided by Zach Williams and the Brothers of Grace, as well as the John 3:16 Praise & Worship Team. There will be prizes, food and fun for all.
The day’s activities begin at 3:00 p.m. and there will be Christian music throughout the day with special giveaways between entertainers, and three grand prize drawings. Unity Fest offers good clean fun for the entire family with a special kids’ corner with several bounce houses, games and entertainment to keep the children entertained.
John 3:16 residents’ testimonies will be given intermittently from 3:00-5:00 pm, from men who have been at the bottom and now have had their lives turned around. A “Southern” catfish dinner with all the trimmings will be served at 5:00 pm, right on the banks of the beautiful White River.
There will also be a live auction beginning at 5:00 pm for you to enjoy along with your tasty catfish dinner. Local well-known Auctioneer Mooney Starr has given his time the last ten years for John 3:16 fund raisers. Local elected officials will be drawing tickets for special giveaways such as gas cards and gift cards. At 6:00 pm our elected officials are scheduled to speak including County Judge Robert Griffin, Mayor Rick Elumbaugh, Sheriff Steve Jeffery, Governor Hutchinson , and any and all other elected officials present.
Entertainment begins at 7:00 pm with Zach Williams and the Brothers of Grace. The Southern Roots Worship/Christian Rock band combines American roots with country blues and warm vintage tones. They are a breath of fresh air to the Christian music genre. With melodic hooks and catchy choruses, William’s songwriting evokes a sound with his music that will make you feel as if it has been there all along. Each member of the Brothers of Grace have their own testimonies, a tie that binds.
Tickets for the catfish dinners are $10 for adults and include the catfish dinner and a chance for the grand prize drawings. Ticket prices have not increased over the 10 year period offering attendees an affordable meal and entertainment. All proceeds go to John 3:16 Ministries. Ticket outlets include: First Community Bank of Batesville and the Dairy Queen.
The three grand prizes, for which you don’t have to be present to win, include a convertible Z28, sponsored by First Community Bank, Citizens Bank, and Future Fuel, a Bad Boy “MZ 48” cut mower, donated by Bad Boy, and a Big Screen HD TV, donated by Wal-Mart. Drinks for this year’s Unity Fest are once again being donated by PepsiCo of Batesville.
Continued support of these sponsors has allowed John 3:16 to continue to grow and help more men.
John 3:16 Ministries is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping men with addictions and receives no funding from state or federal agencies. Their support comes from local churches, individuals, local businesses, and monetary donations. This facility is a long-term program with many men staying at least 6 months. Men who contact John 3:16 Ministries to find out about entering the program ask what the charge is, and Bryan Tuggle gladly tells them, “Jesus already paid the price in full.” That’s correct–men stay at this camp free of charge. Unlike other facilities that charge a large amount and generally only have a 28-day program, this camp is long term and is free to everyone entering.
Unity Fest is very important to John 3:16 Ministries and their mission of helping men with addictions. “This is a great time for our community to enjoy Christian music and a delicious catfish dinner while supporting John 3:16 with its mission of helping men achieve freedom from addiction,” states Bryan Tuggle, Director of John 3:16 ministries, adding, “John 3:16 offers Christian assistance and guidance to men with addictions, helping them get on the right track.”
The camp presently houses 104 men, including 80 residents and 24 instructors. There are also three ladies, the office staff, who play a critical part in helping the camp run on a day to day basis.
John 3:16 has grown so much since its inception, and the last year has brought about a lot of additions and changes. An existing structure was moved and enlarged to house a new married instructor and his family. There is now a new 8-man Van Buren/Cleburne County faith house; a 6-man Randolph County faith house; and the 12-man Butler County faith house built in 2014. The Pulaski County faith house, the first house to be built across the street near the John 3:16 Park, will be home to sixteen men from Little Rock and surrounding areas, and it’s 50% completed. The faith houses are named after counties sponsoring the projects.
They have completed their first year in the new multi-purpose building, hosting several Christmas parties, dance recitals, and company gatherings where they provided food, sound and multi-media services. A carpenter shop was opened to build lawn furniture and large swing sets, available for sale at Best Pawn & Trade. A new prayer room was built with proper seating and a library for men to have a place to study the Bible. The old chapel was converted into a fitness center complete with new work out equipment so men may heal their bodies as well as their minds.
John 3:16 also offers catering, screen printing, parking lot striping, commercial landscaping and tree trimming services, as well as birthday parties in its indoor playground, to help offset its operation and maintenance costs. For more information, call 870-799-2525 or visit John316thecure.com.
Make plans today to attend the 10th Annual Unity Fest on May 30 at Riverside Park in Batesville and help insure that John 3:16 Ministries continue making an investment in the lives of those with addictions. Remember to bring your lawn chairs and plan to sit back and enjoy the day’s events right on the White River. For more information contact John 3:16 ministries at 870-799-2525 or visit their website at John316thecure.com.
