Cultures unite to claim Sydney for God

6, February 2008

In an unprecedented multicultural event, thousands of Christians will join together next month to claim Sydney for God and make the city ‘holy’. For the first time ever in such a massive way, the Korean churches are reaching out to the streets of Sydney, the homeless and the society in general to create harmony and unity in an exciting festival of entertainment.

The Holy City Movement began in a small way in Korea in 1972 and has now grown to include 38 cities in Korea and eight cities around the world.  The first Australian event took place in Sydney last year, with more than 1000 members of Sydney’s Korean community participating. However this year’s event promises to be much bigger as organisers plan to work with Christians from other cultures to make the event truly multicultural. Already, 103.2FM is involved and keen in participating, perhaps even sending out Christian radio speaker Lynne McGranger from Home and Away.

The Holy City Movement will commence with the Holy City Convention and Christian Dance Festival to be held at the Hills Centre, Castle Hill on March 8.  The following day, March 9 the Jesus March will see the streets of Sydney closed from Town Hall to Central as thousands of people march to claim their city for God. Top entertainment will be provided for the general public at no admission cost. The whole Sydney Holy City Convention is not-for-profit.

“A diversity of ages, denominations and cultures, will intermingle to pray, serve and worship together as one church,” said co-ordinator/worship dancer Yumi Kwon.

“We will be working together to share the gospel with the people of Sydney.”

Dancers from all backgrounds and dance styles from hiphop, sign-language based dance to contemporary in the Christian Dance Competition, will perform their dances to Christian music and will be judged on a variety of criteria including their interpretation of the lyrics, expression, level of difficulty and audience response. There is no age limit, and both Christians and non-Christians are able to enter as long as they use Christian music.  Solo and group entries will be accepted. It is free for all to enter and in one sense, the Christian version of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ as it celebrates each individuals gifts and talents in dance.

Individuals, churches and sponsors interested in participating in the Sydney Holy City Movement should contact co-ordinator Yumi Kwon on (0405) 357-579.

Ends
Please see the next page for media contacts:

Media Contact:

Jeanette Nolan (Young Christian Democratic Party) 0410 542 889

Rev. Fred Nile (Christian Democratic Party) 0418 619 731 or 9230 2478

Yumi Kwon Christian Review Magazine and Sydney/Cultural co-ordinator: 0405 357 579

David Kim (Ethnic groups co-ordinator) 0400 226 299

Fusion Australia (Christian Youth and Community organisation) attn: Michael Cleary or Perry Anderson 9789 4888

Mike Taylor AFES- Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (Christian Students President of UTS Kuring-gai) 0438 852 709

Andy Judd Garage Hymnals (Worship band) 0414 871 176
http://www.myspace.com/garagehymnal

Freedom1 pop. indie band,
http://www.myspace.com/freedom1band.com

Juan Mann (Free Hugs Campaign) 0416 730 891
http://www.freehugscampaign.org
http://www.freehugsguide.org

Featured performers:
Justine Avila Tong (flamenco/contemporary/worship dancer),
TMJ Hiphop/Rap artists