Creation East Ends With Largest Crowd Ever

Creation Festival east coast 2005 ended Saturday as the "smoothest" and "biggest" yet, according to the founder of the 27-year-old music and camping festival, Harry Thomas.

By the end of the festival, attendance was 15 percent higher than in previous years. The founder pegged the number of people at 85,000.

"People really loved it, and we're very happy about it," said Thomas.

The purpose of Creation Fest, according to Thomas, is to deliver the gospel to all people, not just the youth -- though the youth make up the majority of attendants.

"It's a tribute to our Creator, and an event where we lift up the Gospel of Jesus Christ." He added, "It's not only a youth event, but there's also a lot of teaching and other ministries."

Around 44 of some of the most popular CCM bands made their appearances over the course of four days, including award-winning pioneers in Christian music, Switchfoot, MercyMe, Toby Mac, Michael W. Smith, and Casting Crowns.

Interviewed by CMRadio, a radio network with rights to broadcast Creation Festival for a second year, several youths indicated their favorite bands.

"Switchfoot," said one youth. "Switchfoot," agreed another.

"How about you? Who are you looking to see?" asked a radio announcer.

"Newsboys," said a third, indicating his preference for the band whose messages point to Jesus.

Though worship is central, Thomas points out the festival is also a speaking event. Attracting some of the top youth speakers from across America, the messages seemed coordinated by divine intervention.

Thursday night centered on a message on salvation. Friday's speakers featured applying messages to personal life, and the final night raised a "Battle Cry" to save a lost generation, delivered by Teen Mania's President, Ron Luce.

"It was as if it was planned by the Lord because each speaker built on top of the others, though they didn't know what each was preaching," said Thomas.

"So it really had a theme but it didn't have a theme. It just kind of built up."