{"id":14261,"date":"2019-05-10T13:33:55","date_gmt":"2019-05-10T17:33:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=14261"},"modified":"2019-05-10T13:33:55","modified_gmt":"2019-05-10T17:33:55","slug":"pop-revival-style-church-becomes-unique-highlight-pharrell-williams-music-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2019\/05\/pop-revival-style-church-becomes-unique-highlight-pharrell-williams-music-festival.html","title":{"rendered":"Pop-Up, Revival-Style Church Becomes Unique Highlight of Pharrell Williams\u2019 Music Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Virginian-Pilot\/YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some are calling it the \u201cWoodstock of Gospel Music.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pharrell Williams\u2019 \u201cSomething in the Water\u201d pop-up church was quite a departure from Kanye West\u2019s Sunday Services which have become quite the spectacle over the last few months.<\/p>\n

The focus of this outdoor service wasn\u2019t celebrities or expensive merchandise, it was simply church.<\/p>\n

There was a long line of people gathered to get to the pop-up church stage which wasn\u2019t far from the festival\u2019s main stage.<\/p>\n

While some may have expected pop hip-hop music to be a focus at the church, it wasn\u2019t. Social media and livestreaming weren\u2019t a focus either. Jesus was!<\/p>\n

About 2,500 people gathered together. It was a beautiful mix of people wearing casual clothing and their Sunday best for a true, revival-style gospel experience.<\/p>\n

The pop-up church was led by Williams\u2019 uncle, Ezekiel Williams, pastor of Faith World Ministries in Norfolk. He was tasked with putting a worship-style service on the final day of the festival to \u201crelease positive energy into the community.\u201d That\u2019s just what the service did.<\/p>\n

The pop-up church was also free and open to the public so those who didn\u2019t purchase tickets to the three-day festival could attend from the community. As a result, there was a blend of festival-goers and non-attendees who wanted the experience.<\/p>\n

The event featured performances from Christians artists like Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary and Israel Houghton, as well as local church groups.<\/p>\n

One pastor who delivered a homily said there is something in the water down here and that something is Jesus.<\/p>\n

Now that we can expect another \u201cSomething in the Water\u201d in 2020 (and beyond) many are looking forward to all the surprises that may be in store.<\/p>\n

If next years\u2019 pop-up church is anything like this years’, the community is in for another powerful experience.<\/p>\n