In 2006, what began simply as a burden for the youth of Maggie Valley, N.C.
became a vision of an evangelistic meeting for the youth of Haywood County.
In March of 2006, the vision became a reality as churches across Haywood
County united for the “Ignite 2006 Youth Explosion. Leading the worship was
Carl Cartee and his praise band from Nashville, Tennessee, “3D”
(Dramatic Difference Drama) from Sevierville, Tennessee, and the “Leap of Faith”
praise team from Haywood County. Evangelist Clayton King from Boiling Springs,
N.C. did the preaching. The response to the meeting was fantastic each
night. Attendance was estimated to be 1,500-1,800 each evening and well over
2,000 for the last service. 317 Professions of Faith were recorded, and more
than 550 total decisions were made!
A request came the last night of the meeting for us to have the meeting again but
to move the location to the Asheville Civic Center. After much prayer and
consideration of God’s will, we felt we weren’t ready to take the meeting
to Asheville. We believed our Lord would have us to take the meeting to the
counties surrounding Asheville first. There we could gather an army of youth
and adults and get them praying and working for the meeting in Asheville. Then,
in God’s timing, we will go to the Civic Center.
On September 30th, 2006 an “Ignite” rally was held at the Stuart Auditorium at
Lake Junaluska. About 1,700 youth and adults attended, and 85 Professions of
Faith were recorded. On January 20th, 2007 another rally was held at the
Ramsey Center at Western Carolina University. More than 3,700 youth and
adults attended, and 212 Professions of Faith were made.
In April of 2007, the event returned to Maggie Valley. Although the weather was
cold and snowy, more than 1,000 people attended each night, and 87 professed
their faith in Christ! In August of 2007, the event was held at the Cherokee Fairgrounds in Cherokee, N.C., and 95 made their Professions of Faith!
January 26th, 2008 the event was brought to Moore Auditorium on the campus of Mars Hill College. The auditorium was packed out with a standing room only crowd of approximately 1,700-1,800 youth and adults from around the region. 206 of those people, mostly youth, made first time Professions of Faith, and 27 were called into full time ministry and missions.
March 15th, 2008, an estimated 2,600 people crowded into Mitchell
High School’s gymnasium for the event. 104 made Professions of Faith, 39 were called into full time ministry and missions, and 49 recommitted their lives to Christ!
September 13th and 14th Ignite went to the western part of the state in Andrews NC. The event was held in the Bear Ridge Mall. God did an amazing work in the west. Over 1,500 people gathered both nights and heard the gospel proclaimed. There were 206 decisions made for Christ at that the event.
On October 18th and 19th the event went to First Baptist Brevard. This was the first time Ignite has been in a physical church building. It was awesome to see
the church’s in that area work together. The church could hold about 900 in the main sanctuary and we did a live video feed in the fellowship hall, which worked perfectly. Over 200 gave their hearts to the Lord as well as made commitment for full time Christian service.
Altogether, over 1,100 youth and adults have made Professions of Faith in the seven meetings we’ve held, and well over 300 have announced their calling to full time Christian service! For this we praise the Lord!
Ultimately Ignite will be taken to the Asheville Civic Center March 26-28
2010 where 10,000 youth and adults from all over Western North Carolina will gather for this great event! All of these events are interdenominational, and admission is free!