B Brraan nd do on n •• Va Vallrriicco o •• L Liitth hiiaa •• S Seeffffn neerr •• R Riivveerrvviieew w •• P Pllaan ntt C Ciittyy •• A Ap po ollllo o B Beeaacch h
A Inc. Observer Inc. Osprey Observer from Osprey Publication from Free Publication A Free
Volume 24, Issue 1
Inside:
January 2020
Two Top Bands To Perform At FL. Strawberry Festival
3
BOOKS PAGE 12
NEWSWIRE SEE PAGE 15
Christian music as well as crossover singles in mainstream music. MercyMe is best known for their hit song, I Can Only Imagine, off their debut album, Almost There. The song holds the record for the best-selling Christian song of all-time, topping both Christian and mainstream Billboard charts. In 2018, it inspired a major motion picture The widely-recognized Christian band MercyMe will depicting the life of the band’s take the stage on Thursday, March 5, 2020. frontman and the song’s author, Every year the Strawberry Bart Millard. Festival procures some of the Throughout their most celebrated bands in the career, the group has business. The Strawberry garnered multiple Festival will feature two distinGRAMMY® nominaguished yet dissimilar Christian tions, American Music groups for this, its 85th year. Awards and Dove "The theme of this year’s Awards. In November, festival is ‘Our Perfect Vision,’ their album Almost There and we can’t wait to see our became RIAA Certified 4x guest’s reaction to the lineup Platinum. we have prepared for them," Like MercyMe, the said Florida Strawberry band Skillet has amassed Festival President Paul Davis. multiple accolades with multiplatinum On Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at 7:30 songs, crossover singles and two GRAMp.m., the hard rocking, two-time GRAMMY® Award nods while differing in music MY®-nominated band Skillet will take the style. With their hard rock vibe and heavy Wish Farms Soundstage at 7:30 p.m. For metal anthems, Skillet has sold over 12 those who prefer the softer sounds of pop music, the six-time GRAMMY®-nominated million albums worldwide. Concertgoers can anticipate the and multiplatinum-selling band MercyMe will perform on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at bands’ setlists to feature current hits, along with songs from their extensive catalogs. 7:30 p.m. Tickets for each concert are sold separateBoth formed in the mid-‘90s, the ly and do not include festival gate admisbands have illustrious reputations in
By Amanda Boston
sion. Festival gate admission is free for ages 5 and under, $5 for ages 6-12 and $10 for ages 13 and over. MercyMe tickets are $40 per person, and Skillet tickets are $30 per person. To purchase tickets, visit www.flstrawberryfestival.com or the Amscot Main Ticket Office
Skillet’s hard rocking sounds will fill the Strawberry Festival on Tuesday, March 3.
located at 2209 W. Oak Avenue in Plant City. For more information about ADA accessible seating or tour group sales, call 719-6680. The Strawberry Festival celebrates the city’s strawberry harvest and takes place in 2020 from Thursday, February 27 through Sunday, March 8. It’s located at 303 N. Lemon St. in Plant City and features nightly headline entertainment, vendors, Midway rides, youth livestock, delicious strawberry treats and much more. For more information, visit www.flstrawberryfestival.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (#berryfest20).
Franklin Graham Brings Prayer Rally To Plant City JUANITA LOLITA SEE PAGE 17
Columns: GraceNotes
Page 5
Hooked On Books
Page 12
Newswire
Page 15
Faith & Footprints
Page 18
Franklin Graham, the oldest son of the late Billy Graham, also president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, is bringing his Decision America Tour to Plant City on Sunday, January 12, 2020. The free evangelistic event will kick off at 4 p.m. Following in his father’s footsteps, Franklin Graham has spent the past three decades traveling around the world spreading the gospel. The Franklin Graham will bring his Decision America Tour to original Decision America Plant City in January 2020. Tour began in 2016 when will also take the stage to perform Franklin Graham held prayer rallies in some of his well-known songs. all 50 state capitals, encouraging Norm Blanton, a local minister Christians to live a biblical life and from Plant City, was hired as a tour pray for their nation. Since then, representative by the Billy Graham Franklin Graham has continued these Evangelism Association. Blanton is evangelistic events in cities across the coordinating volunteers and procuring country. counselors who will witness to attenDubbed the Sunshine State Tour, dees during the rally. Franklin Graham will travel to six cities “This is an evangelistic rally with across Florida to encourage an emphasis on reaching those who Christians to live out their faith and don’t know Christ,” said Blanton. “We share the hope of Jesus Christ to the want Christians to bring friends who lost. The Plant City event will take don’t know Christ to the rally.” place at the Florida Strawberry Blanton continued, “What an aweFestival Soundstage. Jeremy Camp, a some opportunity to impact Plant City GRAMMY®-nominated Christian artist, and the region. We are expecting up to
By Amanda Boston
10,000 folks to attend and are looking for hundreds of volunteers to greet and run tables.” Brian Stowe, the senior pastor at First Baptist Church Plant City, said, “Our church is going to be a big part of it [the rally], and we’re honored.” He continued, “The biggest challenge is getting those who don’t know Christ to the event.
We are training our church on the importance of the invite. People aren’t going to come just because we are out there, but they will come if they are invited.” No ticket is required, and parking is free. Opportunities to volunteer can be found online at https://fl.billygraham.org/event/plant-city. For questions, call Norm Blanton at 326-0749. The Florida Strawberry Festival Soundstage is located at 303 Lemon St. in Plant City.