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PHOTOS COURTESY OF DEBORAH BAKER HAMPTON

PLAY DAY. Giggles the Clown paints children’s faces during St. John’s annual arts festival, and she’ll be back again this year along with lots of stuff for kids to do.

St. John Baptist Church invites community to annual festival

By Matt Nagle

For nearly 55 years, St. John Baptist Church on South ‘J’ Street has been a pillar of the community in Tacoma. With its stated mission of transforming lives and restoring communities through sharing the gospel, edifying the church and empowering the poor, St. John, led by senior pastor Rev. LeeArthur Madison, reaches out to people both within its walls and in the broader populace through ministries, music, events and inspiring Sunday services.

One of the most anticipated events St. John offers is the annual Community Arts Festival the church puts on in partnership with Transformation Ministries International, a movement of Baptist churches established in 1869 committed to changing the world through Bible-based education and personal encounters with Jesus Christ. The way St. John achieves this vision at the festival, which this year will be held Aug. 16, is through fun activities, great food, outstanding music and entertainment and lots of friendly people enjoying one another’s company. The theme is “Building Our Communities Together.”

“It’s our way of giving back to the community,” said Community Festival Director Deborah Baker Hampton. “We’re not just a church on a hill. Part of what God said to do is go out into the world, and so we go out into the community to let them know St. John is there. It’s a fun family event where people can just come, sit back and enjoy the whole day.”

She said one of her favorite things about the festival is “the community coming together, people getting to know people, and all that love that’s shared there.”

This is the seventh year that parishioners of St. John have organized the festival that features fun carnival games, inflatable toys and Giggles the Clown show for the children, free school supplies give-away starting at 12:30 p.m., lots of vendor booths, a food court (featuring delicious sweet potato fries), arts and crafts booths, go cart racing, information on better health and lots of inspirational music and entertainment.

This year the festival will be held on the grounds of Transformation Ministries International’s Washington state headquarters at 9201 Pacific Ave., as St. John Church is currently undergoing some remodeling. “Tacoma is growing, and we’re growing with the community,” Hampton said.

Opening ceremonies begin at 11 a.m., and Hampton noted this part of the festival is not to be missed. This year a flag folding ceremony conducted by members of the military, Washington State Patrol and Tacoma Fire Department will honor those who have given their lives for country and community. There will also be a Victorious Flag Processional showcasing all kinds of different flags in parade.

Many vendor booths will offer items not found at other community festivals in Tacoma, such as Artistic Praise jewelry makers, Z&Z Clothing and many others. Christian author Sean Dunn will also be there, selling and signing copies of his books.

A wide array of community services will be represented at the festival, offering information on things like home ownership, continuing education and opportunities in the military. Ebony Nurses will be there doing blood pressure checks, Tacoma Fire Department will be teaching children how to react in case of fire, and lead testing for children’s toys will also be available.

Music is a big part of the festival, with a “Slamming Jam Session” at 4 p.m. starring artists with new CDs soon to be released.

• David W. Jackson and W.O.W. (With Out Wrinkle) encompasses nine singers and eights musicians. All of their music is gospel using styles in hip-hop, classical, opera, heavy metal, traditional, contemporary, go-go, praise and worship, and any other style that allows them to minister to a diverse group of people. Joining them will be soloist Brandy Nordgren, whose hot single “Free” has been played on Spirit 105.3, and “Wait” on C89.5.

• Soloist Fred Triplett has a smooth style with a mix of traditional and contemporary gospel, and is a regular soloist for TBN in the Seattle area.

• Poet and emcee Josh Rizeberg, soon to begin a United States tour, is a new kind of emcee who has made quite a name for himself in the Puget Sound area blending smooth, asymmetrical rhyme schemes with song and substance.

• Other performers will include two all-female groups, hip-hop dancers Unashamed and singing/dancing group Soul Sound, the St. John Mass Choir, Korean Women’s Concerto, Guidance Praise Dancers, and more.

“We can cater to anybody in the community,” Hampton commented about the entertainment line-up.

On Aug. 17, festivalgoers are invited to come back for outdoor Sunday services at 10 a.m. and noon.

Above all, “just come and enjoy it,” Hampton said. “We have something for everyone there.”

For additional information, call (253) 572-7054 or www.stjohntacoma.org.

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