Unity Fest, which is coming May 3 to John 3:16 Ministries, has always been about bringing the community together in praise of what God has done to restore lives and families.
While the event was held for many years at Riverside Park in Batesville, it is now held at the campus where those lives are put back together – at the John 3:16 Ministries location, 75 Holmes Road in Charlotte.
As always, John 3:16 will have a jam-packed, full-day schedule for Unity Fest, including auctions and a free concert by Christian artist Crowder (pictured), but this year’s event will include something new this year: pig races.
In addition, R&R Camo Shop in Jonesboro has also donated a 54-inch zero-turn Spartan shield mower to be given away at the event as well. (The winner does not have to be present to win.)
Gates open at 10:30 a.m., and admission to the carnival and all rides are free. There will be concessions for sale, including hamburgers, hot dogs, corndogs, fries, drinks, funnel cakes, nachos, snow cones, and pints of ice cream.
A live auction will also start at 10, and a silent auction will be set up all day until 5.
The live auction will be selling anything that runs on gasoline from a moped to tractors. Some of the auction items include a 1981 Stingray Corvette, 1962 Nova Wagon, 1985 Toyota Celica, and a two-door four-wheel-drive 1995 Yukon (restored).
There will be some seating available, but attendees are welcome to bring chairs and blankets as well.
One of this highlights this year is sure to be the pig races, brought by Show Me Swine Racers in East Prairie, Mo. John 3:16 resident Ronny Chaney’s father runs the company, which travels the United States bringing pig races to all kinds of community events.
“We’ve got about four or five units that go all over the United States,” Chaney said. “We set up a big horseshoe-shaped track, then let the pigs out, and they race around the track.
“It’s a family show, and these races are always a lot of fun. You’ll see all ages really getting into and cheering for their favorite.”
While fun and games are always part of the day, Unity Fest is a chance to put the spotlight on the camp itself.
Bryan Tuggle, the camp’s founder and director, said several years ago when they were planning the first Unity Fest, they were trying to figure out a name for the event.
“Jesus came and brought unity, so we combined that with the word ‘festival,’” he said.
For years, John 3:16 hosted Unity Fest on the River at Riverside Park in Batesville but had eventually outgrown the space.
“Now, when people come to Unity Fest at our camp, they get to see why we are here,” Tuggle said. “We are doing this to lift up the name of Jesus and to glorify Him in all that we do. Jesus is all about bringing unity, and that’s what we do. We will have thousands of people here including our residents that we are reuniting with their families.”
“We want to show everyone what Jesus is doing out there, and this gives us a chance to show where the residents live and work and get a new understanding of life – a new perspective of what it is to be clean and sober-minded,” Instructor Brent Waugh said.
Just like Unity Fest, there is no charge for a man to attend John 3:16. Tuggle explains to those driving into the camp for the first time that the cross at the entrance is empty – Jesus died and rose again. “That paid the price right there, the eternal price.”
Tuggle said they appreciate their corporate sponsors who help make this carnival and the Crowder concert free to the public.
Born David Wallace Crowder, the artist hails from Texarkana, Texas, and performed as part of the David Crowder Band before moving to Atlanta. There, he began work on his first album as a solo artist entitled “Neon Staple.”
Crowder kicked off his “Hits Deep” tour with TobyMac and Cain in January.
With over 3 million records sold, 1.8 billion global streams, and five Grammy nominations, his music includes “Red Letters,” “In the House,” “All My Hope” featuring Tauren Wells, “Good God Almighty,” “Come As You Are,” and “Grave Robber,” which he re-released with Zach Williams.
His newest single is “Somebody Prayed” featuring Dylan Scott.
John 3:16 will celebrate its 22nd anniversary this year helping men struggling with drug and alcohol addiction; a women’s ministry was added in 2023.
For more information about Unity Fest or John 3:16 men’s and women’s ministries, call (870) 799-2525, visit john316thecure.com, or follow the ministry on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
