<p><strong><em>O</em></strong>n the unofficial last weekend of summer, a Franklin church is inviting people to celebrate some of the things that make the warmer months so great.</p>
<p>People will be able to indulge in ice cream, hot dogs and other summertime food. There will be bounce houses for kids, and a monster truck display. Try to beat the Indiana National Guard obstacle course, and enjoy live music throughout the day.</p>
<p>At the end of it all, ooh and aah underneath a dazzling fireworks display.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]
<p>As a way to bring the community together, inform people about its outreach ministries and raise money for the hungry, Impact Christian Church will host its annual Freedom Fest on Sunday. The event is now in its ninth year, and last year raised more than $500 and collected 1,100 pounds of food.</p>
<p>“We like to celebrate that we’re free in this country. And we’re a church that helps people a lot, and a lot of this festival was born out of helping people. We get a lot of community resources together, we host a blood drive, we focus on all the things we offer,” said Jeff Souders, pastor at Impact Christian Church.</p>
<p>The first Freedom Fest was held in 2010, and for the first few years, it was held in July. But with so many other community events packed around the Independence Day, church organizers started looking for a different time to hold it. Labor Day became the new time.</p>
<p>The event features a wealth of activities and entertainment. Magic shows, game booths, a car and motorcycle show and the Smash-A-Car — where participants can take a sledgehammer to a run-down car — are all popular events. Food booths will be set up, and music by the Midnight Wedding, a hard rock and worship band from Fort Wayne, will keep people dancing.</p>
<p>Fireworks after dark will be provided by Yancy’s Fireworks.</p>
<p>The church created the event to give people something entertaining to do, as well as to help support its own missions and the Interchurch Food Pantry. But it also uses it to reach people who may be in need of help and could benefit from its outreach.</p>
<p>“The festival is a way to say, ‘This is us, come check out what we have,’” Souders said.</p>
<p>Hands and Feet Ministries is the church’s outreach arm, and offers to aid people by providing clothes, household items and other immediate needs. The ministry helps with minor maintenance or with projects in homes or businesses. They also can pitch in to help cleanup or provide resources following a disaster.</p>
<p>The Freedom Fest is another way to touch people who could benefit from the ministry’s services, said Brandi Ward, director of Hands and Feet.</p>
<p>“One of the things I love about the Freedom Fest is this: It gives our church a low-key way to let our community know, especially those who are in serious need in our community, that we are here for them. That we have help for them and we want to walk alongside them in their journey through life,” he said.</p>
<p>People will be collecting canned and nonperishable food, as well as donations for its missions. Between 700 and 800 typically attend the event, and organizers hope that each of them comes away with a better understanding of what is available if they find need help of any kind.</p>
<p>“There’s a great need for this,” Souders said. “We believe we’re called to do it, and if we didn’t do it, we’re not sure who would.”</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="If you go" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Freedom Fest</p>
<p>What: A celebration of community and outreach put on each year by Impact Christian Church</p>
<p>When: 5:30 p.m. Sunday</p>
<p>Where: Impact Christian Church, 2800 Graham Road, Franklin</p>
<p>Admission: Free</p>
<p>Free parking are available due north of Impact Christian Church</p>
<p>Questions: Contact the church at 317-346-0452</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
