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Courtesy photo Big Daddy Weave performed recently in downtown Sebring but will be among the big names at Faith on Fire.

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published: Sunday, January 13, 2013

Plans are under way for Faith on Fire event

By ROMONA WASHINGTON

romona.washington@newssun.com

Candace Cameron Bure. Dennis Swanberg. Jonny Diaz. Sanctus Real. Big Daddy Weave.

Two things they all have in common: They are inspirational artists and speakers, and they are all contracted to perform in the Faith on Fire event, a Christian music festival, planned for later this year at Westgate River Ranch Resorts in Lake Wales.

Candice Anderson, one of the event organizers, grew up hearing her parents talk about the Jesus Festivals they attended.

"We felt like God was telling us to do this. We've always felt that we needed revivals back in this country. Faith on Fire will be like a revised version of the Jesus Festivals. There are a lot of people who are Christians but they're just not excited about it anymore. We want them to get excited again, and it's also for those who have never known what being a Christian is all about. We want them to get to know what it is," she said.

The three-day event is scheduled for Nov. 8-11. Tickets, ranging from $15-$65, are now on sale. Overnight accommodations at the resort are available.

A portion of the proceeds will go to local charities and ministries.

Although there are some big names already committed to the November event, Anderson said negotiations continue with other performers and speakers. Of those that are booked, the names are familiar with inspirational speaker and musician fans.

Candace Cameron Bure may be best known for her television role as D.J. Tanner on Full House for eight years. She is also the sister of actor Kirk Cameron. After a 10-year hiatus to throw herself into the role of being a wife and mother, she has re-emerged on the viewing screen for a number of movies and television sitcoms. She has also become an author and has recently launched an online magazine for women. She travels the country speaking at women's conferences and churches sharing her Christian faith.

Dr. Dennis Swanberg, affectionately known to his TV audience as "The Swan," is a "seasoned and solid communicator whose sly wit delivers life-enriching truths to the heart on wings of laughter." He is a teacher, speaker, author, counselor, preacher and TV host. He has been called "America's Minister of Encouragement" because of his constant work at lifting hearts and leading people to a richer life through his humor.

Jonny Diaz hails from Lakeland. He is an American contemporary Christian pop artist whose song "More Beautiful You" has charted on American Christian music charts. His desire has been to write songs that entertain, encourage and challenge fellow believers, according to his website, www.jonnydiaz.com.

Sanctus Real is a Dove Award-winning, Grammy-nominated American Christian rock band that strives to live up to the meaning of its name: to be Holy (Latin meaning of "sanctus") in all that they do. They're hit song, "Lead Me," spent nine weeks at the top of the charts. The sixth studio album by the band is expected to be released next month.

Big Daddy Weave is another hugely popular band among Christian music fans. They received a 2010 Dove Award for the album Christ Has Come, have been honored at ASCAP's Christian Music Awards, were chosen for the WOW Hits Compilations in five of the last six years and are one of the 10 most played artists at Christian radio over the past decade, according to their website, bigdaddyweave.
com.

The band also performed in downtown Sebring recently in a concert at Circle Park.

For more information about Faith on Fire or to purchase tickets early, visit faithonfireinc.com.

"We want to see the lost found, the wavering strengthened and the stale Christian get on fire for God," Anderson said.