Spanfest attracts curious crowd with camouflage, line dancing

Tyrel Linkhorn

Fifteen people, many of whom were dressed in camouflage, line dancing in Risman Plaza can be quite an eye-catcher.

And that is just what Spanfest producer Danielle Wiggins, 2004 graduate of Kent State, wanted – people to notice.

Late yesterday afternoon, members of the Shepherd’s Pasture for All Nations Church in Tallmadge put on Spanfest, a program featuring skits, dancing, music and religious testimonials with the intention of drawing interest to the on-campus organization the Impact Movement, which it sponsors.

The Impact Movement is a national Christian organization with chapters in more than 170 colleges and universities.

The church wants to “reach out to the community, let them know we’re here,” Wiggins said.

The event caught the eye of many passers-by.

Will Smith, sophomore French translation major, said he was coming from work when he saw the program.

Despite the fact that Smith said he isn’t very religious, he stayed to watch for some time.

“I think it’s pretty entertaining,” he said. “It’s got my attention.”

As Wiggins described it: “entertainment with a purpose.”

Multiple genres of music were included in the entertainment. Wiggins said this was done because “music equalizes people” and her church is not exclusive to one type of person.

“We aren’t a black church, we aren’t a white church … we’re just a church,” she said.

Yesterday, however, they could have been described as a green, brown and black church as the camouflage many members wore represented their membership in the “Christian army,” Wiggins said.

It represents that the church and movement will “help fight for your goals and train you up,” she said.

The program also focused on how the members can build each other up and true friends can be found within the Impact Movement.

Kent State’s Impact Movement chapter was founded in 1997 by SPAN’s pastor and founder Bryndon Glass, a 1999 Kent State graduate.

Glass said he hoped the event would “create a bridge between our church and the university.”

Contact student finance reporter Tyrel Linkhorn at [email protected].