Spirit West Coast

Summer is nearing and SWC will be here before you know it. NOW is the time to make your lodging plans, especially if staying in hotels. Monterey is a VERY popular, world-class tourist destination and hotels fill-up in mid-summer, PLUS the later you book the higher the price and the availability options narrow.

Camping? No worries for that, there are plenty of campsites right ON the SWC property; Laguna Seca. Camping prices do not increase as SWC nears but site locations are fulfilled based on when they are purchased; the earlier you buy the more prime location the campsite will be on the property.

The Spirit West Coast Fundraising Auction has just launched and the first items available for bid are a pair front row seats to each Chris Tomlin concert in San Jose, Davis, Fresno, Las Vegas and Phoenix. This auction items include meeting Chris Tomlin after the concert. CLICK HERE for details and to place your bid. The SWC festival auction is a fundraising initiative for the nonprofit ministry. Additional auction items and unique opportunities will be posted soon.               

Chris Tomlin’s tour comes to San Jose – Apr 25, Davis – Apr 26, Irvine – Apr 27, Fresno – Apr 28, Las Vegas – Apr 30 and Phoenix – May 1. San Jose and Phoenix are now sold out. Plenty of tickets remain for all other cities. Bay Area fans who missed-out in San Jose; consider going to Davis, Friday April 26, 8PM or Fresno Apr 28. More info at CELEBRATIONCONCERTS.COM!

Rhett Walker has two popular radio hits on the radio right now; “When Mercy Found Me” and “Come to the Water”. Rhett will be appearing on the festival’s second day, Aug. 2, the same day that Jeremy Camp is headlining. Tedashii is the closing artist on the Air 1 alternative/urban stage on Thursday, Aug. 1. See current lineup and schedule at: www.SpiritWestCoast.org.

The Rhett Walker Band was the knock-out performance each night at The Rock & Worship Roadshow, which blitzed California recently, playing to over 30,000 people in San Jose, Sacramento and Fresno. Rhett and band were recently added to the Spirit West Coast festival lineup. Other Roadshow acts appearing at SWC include hip-hop artist Tedashii (also a big hit at the Roadshow) and Jeremy Camp, who is headlining SWC on Friday, Aug. 2.

The vast masses who attend SWC are not yet fully aware of it, but our nonprofit ministry is transitioning to a partially donation based ministry; a campaign which started in May 2012. The SWC leadership team feels God talking us in a direction of many people becoming sowers according to 2 Corinthians 9:6, so firstly that SWC can continue year after year and secondly, continue at the level of quality thousands have come to expect. Yesterday I held 3 small meetings in the San Diego area and it was awesome seeing several people decide to become financial supporters of the evangelistically focused ministry. These are not rich people, just everyday folks who want to be involved in moving the vision forward. For more info on funding see the “Support the Ministry” page under the GET INVOLVED tab on the website.

The booking confirmations for 2013 are coming in. We’re excited to announce that the reunited and NEW Audio Adrenaline, with new lead singer Kevin Max (of DC Talk fame) will be at SWC on Aug. 3…how about that! AA will have a new record out, I’ve heard it and the songs are awesome. They’ll be performing many of their earlier hits too. Audio A last appeared at SWC in 2006. 

One of the all-time best speakers we’ve had at SWC is Reggie Dabbs. Every year I try to book Reggie and most years he is not available because he is so heavily booked; his calendar sometimes fills up 2 years in advance! But this year I called and nailed him down to speak on Aug 1 within 24 hours. I couldn’t believe it! 

It’s exciting to know that the Monterey event will return to Laguna Seca in 2013, and on a great weekend too…Aug 1-3…mid-summer! Now the booking starts; trying to find just the right acts for the three days of programming.

We should have some names to announce by December. Sometimes it takes weeks for an artist we “invite” to work through the many aspects of them committing to the date; their calendar and other bookings, travel etc.

Unfortunately not every artist WE want is always available, BUT we’ll trust the Lord that he will provide who we are suppose to have, but it will be a good line up.

Jon Robberson – Event Director – Oct 30

The 2012 Spirit West Coast festival in Del Mar was a great success spiritually, as the Spirit of Jesus Christ and the power of His love impacted hundreds of people at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The eighth annual event, presented by the non-profit Spirit West Coast ministry organization, fully realized its core purpose; to be an evangelistic and spiritually encouraging force to change lives.

The talent shined brightly with dynamic headlining performances by TobyMac, Tenth Avenue North and a fitting finale performance by Newsboys substituting for MercyMe on closing night. Other noteworthy performances from the cast of over 40 artists included Matthew West, with both his performance and seminar message, Peter Furler with Phil Joel (playing bass in Peter’s band), the high-energy delivery of Family Force 5 and Disciple and the refreshing concert by newcomers The City Harmonic. The crowd truly enjoyed The Afters, Fireflight, Chris August and Late Nite comedians Bob Smiley, Stephen B and Scott Wood.

Each night featured a powerful, Christ centered message on the Main Stage: Friday by renowned evangelist Luis Palau, Saturday by Nick Vujicic and the closing night by Bob Lenz. Each message engaged the crowd as only the Holy Spirit can. Fruitful messages on the C28 rock stage included youth oriented challenges by Kevin from Disciple and Joseph Rojas from Seventh Day Slumber.

Festival Director, Jon Robberson reported, “I would sum up this year’s event by saying the ‘the attendance was down but the Spirit was up’. Of course I’d rather both be up but attendance will be what it will be. We have always measured the success of Spirit West Coast from a spiritual perspective, and from that point of view 2012 was a home run. Any time over 200 people find Christ as their Savior for the first time and a few hundred more turn corners in their faith walk it’s a home run.”

Knowing that the attendance was down in Del Mar and that the Monterey festival was canceled resulting in financial challenges for the ministry organization, many are wondering about the future of the annual events. Director Robberson noted, “we’ve started a fundraising campaign to secure the return of another festival, and one thing has become crystal clear; many people, I mean a lot of people, love Spirit West Coast for what it means to them, their friends and family, and they do not want to see it go away. Having clearly seen God work at Del Mar this year, people witnessed a firsthand reminder that SWC is a spiritual event and worthy of their financial support. Knowing that people are stepping up with support, I’m very encouraged that the ministry will be moving ahead to spiritually impact people in the future if more people continue to get involved and join the financial support team.”

Specific plans for Spirit West Coast 2013 are in limbo since the future is completely dependent on raising a level of support necessary to relaunch the large events. To inquire about getting involved financially email: publicity@SpiritWestCoast.org or see the web page “SUPPORT” and the PDF pledge form. The fundraising goal is to secure four-hundred, $500 pledges annually ($42 per month)!
SWC ministry department leader Bob Reehm summed up 2012, “praise God that we were able to have the event given the ministry’s financial circumstances, but in doing so hundreds of lives will never be the same.”