‘Jesus Freaks’ worship while rocking out at Freakstock

From July 28 to August 2, fans called “Jesus freaks” were treated to seminars, daily church services and, of course, music with more than 50 bands, such as The Violet Burning and JesusBurger, taking to the stage. Among its fans were church leaders from all denominations who helped lead worshippers in the round-the-clock prayer centre.

Bishop Anba Damian, head of the Egypt-based Coptic Orthodox Church in Germany, said the festival was good fun. “The young people were all very reasonable and open-minded,” he told German news agency Evangelische Pressedienst (EPD) of the non-denominational festival.

For the first time in its 13-year run, Freakstock took over the former NATO barracks area on the edge of the small city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Before that, the festival was hosted by Gotha, Thuringia.

Freakstock spokesman Martin C. Hünerhoff told EPD that Freakstock will definitely be back to Borgentreich, two hours south of Hanover, in for the 2010 festival.

As for the term “Jesus freaks,” it started in the 1960s and 1970s in the US by a group to support young and charismatic Christians. Today, there are more than 150 “Jesus Freaks” groups across Europe.

Freakstock is one of the largest Christian music festivals in Europe.