Where: New Life Assembly of God, 2416 N. Wright Road, Janesville.
When: Saturday, June 27
11 a.m.: Grounds open
2 p.m.: New Life Worship Band
3 p.m.: At Image
4:15 p.m.:Crossroads
5:30 p.m.: Splat Experience
6 p.m.: Chad James
7:15 p.m.: Splat Experience
7:30 p.m.: Joe Kessler
8 p.m.: Big Daddy Weave
9 p.m.: Splat Experience
9:15 p.m.: Pastor Michael Jackson
9:30 p.m.: Fireworks
JANESVILLE — It's a story that begins with a child in poverty and ends with fireworks.
It's also a story that gets better every year.
On Saturday, New Life Assembly of God, 2416 N. Wright Road, Janesville will host its eighth annual Freedom Fest.
If you've never been to Freedom Fest, here's what you need to know: The rides are free, the food is reasonably priced and the entertainment includes national Christian acts.
Here's the question other churches, booster groups and service organizations want to know: How do they do that?
Here's how: With more than 350 volunteers, the help of six churches and a variety of revenue sources ranging from donations to advertisements.
The beginning
Many people have heard the story: The Rev. Michael Jackson, New Life's senior's pastor, was raised in poverty.
Not can't-afford-fancy-sneakers poverty, but can't-afford-shoes poverty.
Jackson grew up in a family of nomads, traveling from place to place as his father looked for jobs or the next big break.
Jackson managed to break free from poverty, but never forgot it.
That's where Freedom Fest came from. Jackson wanted to give back to the community while providing a family-friendly event everyone—without exception—could attend.
Every year, the event has grown with better fireworks, different and better rides and increasingly well-known acts.
But one thing hasn't changed: It's always unapologetically Christian—Christian music, Christian skits and music for kids and Christian speakers.
Making something good even better
So how do they do it?
"A good portion of the money comes from the advertising we sell in the program," said the Rev. Todd Pope, family pastor at the church. "Even with a down year in the economy, we sold more ads that ever this year."
Another 20 to 25 percent comes from the congregation and additional money comes from a golf fundraiser. The church also gets a small portion of the food sales.
"This isn't a fundraiser," Pope said. "We're trying to give back to the community."
Their goal is to break even—and last year they came within $15 of that goal.
Volunteers are another crucial factor in the event's success.
More than 350 volunteers work on Freedom Fest activities. Five other churches help on the day of the event.
"There are people who plan their vacation around Freedom Fest so they can be here," Pope said.
People take time off from work so they can spend all day Friday setting up. On Saturday, volunteers from New Life and other churches run the rides, staff the booths and generally make people feel welcome.
The details
-- The rides are free. This year's new ride is a 40-foot Ferris wheel. Other returning favorites include the big slide, bouncy houses, and the "frog hopper" jumping ride, cars or airplanes that spin around, a petting zoo and pirate boat. A separate play area for tiny tots and their parents is also available.
-- Food and drink are reasonably priced. The church required their vendors to take it easy on the customers. Pizza, hamburgers and sweets will all be featured.
No beer or alcohol is allowed on church grounds, but families are encouraged to bring picnic baskets with their own food and drink.
-- The entertainment. Big Daddy Weave is this year's headliner.
Between 2002 and 2008, Big Daddy Weave, a contemporary Christian band has had five albums in Billboard's Christian and "heatseeker" top 20.
Chad James, a Christian singer-songwriter from Walworth County, will open for the group.
Also new this year is the "Splat Experience." An artist creates an image of Christ on a huge canvas while music plays in the background.