Winter Jam Fest: 'It's like a little circus traveling around'

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With the Winter Jam, Christian rock and gospel music comes out of the temples and into the secular venues.

National Christian recording artists NewSong, MercyMe, Mandisa, Skillet and BarlowGirl are taking their ministry from the pulpit to the stage in a 36-city tour. The show stops Sunday in Norfolk at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.

NewSong launched Winter Jam in 1994 as a solo show in Greenville, S.C. After ministering at several churches in the area, the band wanted to bring those congregations together.

"They never had a building full there for a Christian event, and we packed it out to the gills and turned 2,000 people away. It was amazing," Eddie Cars-well said in a telephone interview from Nashville. "Now there's seven bands on the tour. It's about 100 of us. It's like a little circus traveling around."

The NewSong co-founder said all ages are welcome, but the tour caters to teens. The evening includes stunt performances by the Xtreme BMX/Skate Team and a 17-minute sermon from national youth evangelist Tony Nolan. He will talk about salvation, including a fulfilling life on Earth and eternal life with Jesus Christ.

"People come - Lord willing - because it's going to be fun and exciting, and say, 'You know what? I like this. This is fun' or, 'I like that band' or, 'I like these people, and I don't mind hearing what this guy has to say,' " Carswell said.

For NewSong, the message is more important than the attendance numbers. Ditching preshow ticket sales keeps the band from concentrating on the profit.

"It really stretches your faith," Carswell said. "It's very humbling to say, 'Lord, I can't make anything happen. I can do some detail work, but I can't get the big crowd to come."

The Ted Constant Convocation Center seats about 9,000 people.

"You're confident because God has built your faith up by showing you he's faithful to do it. There's nothing like showing up not really knowing what's going to happen and just trusting God. You've done all of your preparation, but just trusting God that it's really going to resonate with the people."

DeAnne M. Bradley, (757) 222-3897, deanne.bradley@link757.com