Can someone please tell me why we have a "gospel/Christian" segment every year at the Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival? Don't get me wrong, the music and message of the "Jesus time" at 11:00 Sunday morning is good stuff and relatively harmless. It's just that I think the organizers would get a much better turnout if they put something more mainstream in that time slot.

For the last three years, the turnout for this Gospel hour has been absolutely dismal to say the least, especially as compared to the rest of the weekend's showcases. This surprises me for two reasons. First, the calibre of musicianship has been quite impressive by these Christian artists and would rival any of the other gigs that weekend.

Second, with about 20 churches in the area, you'd expect the Christians would support the only "God time" at the festival.

The reality is though, that the church people don't show up. I'd actually rather go to something like this then real church. By contrast, wouldn't this be a greater opportunity something the ENTIRE community is involved with rather than the "carry the cross walk" through the streets on Easter? Why not showcase who you are by getting involved with our community instead of "marching for Jesus?" God forbid that the churches would leave their fortresses on a Sunday morning and join in with one of the greatest community gatherings Orangeville has ever seen.

Sure they might not get as much in the plate that Sunday, but here's an idea - maybe they could all get together, at the Blues & Jazz Festival "Gospel Hour" and take up an offering to help out the local women's shelter or the youth shelter or single mothers, or one any one of the countless charities we have in this amazing community.

This seems to be a much better use of resources instead of building bigger buildings for themselves? This is my challenge to the Christian church in Orangeville for next year's Blues & Jazz Festival Gospel Hour... show up or shut up!
Andrew The Agnostic