A funding dispute at Shoalhaven City Council has failed to dampen the spirits of organisers behind a booming Christian music festival attended by 400 young people on the NSW South Coast.
At a meeting last week Deputy Mayor John Anderson cautioned the Council over its donation of $1000 for a youth rock concert, Reclaiming Easter for Christ (REC), held at the Wesley Centre in Nowra on March 19.
It is alleged Mr Anderson claimed the concert's religious nature could exclude young people who did not identify as Christian.
But organiser James Petterson, 24, said the professionalism of the production made it attractive to non-Christian young people, and the benefits it brings to Shoalhaven outweighed the "slanging match' he claims occurred at the meeting.
"It's a fantastic venue and we've made an impact on a lot of people," he said. "We just keep praying for [Cr Anderson]. We don't expect him to be fully compliant."
Councillor Paul Green, a former Assemblies of God minister and chairman of the Council's Youth Advisory Committee, said he "just can't understand why anyone should be so small-minded' to prevent local youth " many from single parent families " from being exposed to Christianity and the "safe environment' it offers.
"They could be Mormon, Jehovah's Witnesses, Buddhist or Muslim," Mr Green said. "They were all welcome."
Mr Anderson did not return Anglican Media's calls last week.
REC was founded by a local Christian family and is now in its fifth year. It is sponsored by local businesses and supported by 22 churches in the Nowra area.
James Petterson, who is a member of St Stephen's, Bomaderry and a graduate of the Anglican Youthworks College, said Anglican churches have been the biggest supporters of the event by praying consistently and providing up to 40 volunteers to help run activities.
Mr Petterson said the Shoalhaven is plagued with a high rate of car accidents fatalities and youth suicide, as well as the loss felt by the deaths of two local teenagers in the 2002 Bali bombings. He said the concert aimed to provide hope for young people through presenting the gospel in a culturally appropriate way.
"The most effective Christian witness is when kids witness to other kids," he said. "Everyone would have walked out with the Easter message in their minds."
Outreach teams were involved in one-on-one evangelism throughout the Shoalhaven before and after the concert. Next year organisers are hoping to double audience numbers and will be touring local schools with Christian rock bands throughout the year.
"We aim to work with school Scripture teachers and support what they do," Mr Petterson said. "The concert really changes young people's perceptions that church events are boring."
