Second "Friendship" Festival Planned in Morocco

Justin Camacho/Teresa Neumann Reporting : Feb 17, 2006
The Christian Post

The purpose of the festival, says Thomas and Landis, is to "show that people of different cultures and faith traditions can be friends and live in harmony with one another."

Marrakech Regional President Abdelali Doumou called last year's festival -- the first of its kind -- which drew a crowd of around 85,000 people, a "historic opportunity for Americans and Moroccans to celebrate together, through music, in friendship and peace." It was so appreciated that Doumou extended an official invitation for Thomas to return to Morocco in 2006.

An agreement was reached last year, in response to opposition by some Moroccan leaders regarding the "religious content" of the music, that none of the musicians would proselytize during the event. That wasn't a problem.

"We're not allowed to evangelize but we were allowed to make connections, make friends, and share Christ that way," Friendship 2005 performer Joy Williams told Christianity Today.

Some of the groups scheduled for this year's event are: The Crabb Family, Jaci Velasquez, KJ-52, American Idol finalist George Huff, Canadian rock quartet Downhere, and Audio Adrenaline.