Action-packed performances with a positive message best summarizes what Impact World Tour has to offer. The tour, offering live performances on campus four nights this weekend, includes everything from music, to dance and extreme sports events. And it’s all free to students.
This tour has been around since 1994, and the group has spread its message, a cross-section of beliefs from all over the world. The team members and volunteers give their time an effort receiving no wages, which shows their passion and belief in this tour, according to John Rankin, managing partner of IWT.
“We want to help and encourage people to realize and fulfill the purpose they were created to fulfill,” said R. K. Castillo, a member of the Xtreme team, who performed last night.
The Bowling Green community has been a huge part in bringing this tour to Anderson Arena. Local churches and businesses have shown a lot of support, according to Marty Emmett, IWT Ohio state director.
“They are anticipating 5,000 volunteers in northwest Ohio to help put on these 30-plus events,” Rankin said.
These events bring together people from all over the world for a common cause.
“When you’re able to meet someone from a different part of the world, and you’re able … to share certain beliefs, there is an instant connection,” said Matt Valantine, youth/young adults pastor at Dayspring Assembly in Bowling Green.
Organizers say the tour presents a positive message of faith, without restricting its aim to any denomination.
“People still searching out their beliefs, this will be a great opportunity for them to hear someone else’s testimony or journey,” Valantine said.
According to Chad Frank, a staff member for H2O campus ministry, IWT helps to present a message for all people to come together in their beliefs as God intended it.
This works to pull together people of all faiths and beliefs toward one common experience.
“Everybody’s unified in a simple faith and that is … love God and others in speech and action and encourage others to do likewise,” Rankin said.
Many of the performers have learned about life through negative experiences, which has proved to make them better people. They want to take advantage of being able to spread their message to others through their passions, said Emmett.
“A lot of them [performers] have come from pretty extreme backgrounds … they are sharing their testimony of what happened to them to bring them out of that place,” he said.
