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Bringing the Fresh Flow to Kalona

Pam Evans, right, waves flags to the music as Christian recording artist John Waller performs with his band for the Fresh Flow ministry Dec. 8 at Iowa Mennonite School in Kalona. Evans started the concert-based ministry with her daughters.

By Deanna Truman
Iowa City Press-Citizen 12/15/07

• What: Fresh Flow concerts and seminars, an endeavor of Kalona resident Pam Evans and her daughters to bring more Christian artists to the state.
• When: The next scheduled performer is Phil Wickham on Feb. 2.
• Where: The majority of the concerts will be at the Iowa Mennonite School in Kalona.
• Information: For ticket prices and other information, go to www.thefountainministries.net or call 319-656-2350.

KALONA -- It is a Saturday night, and the Evans Family is in fast motion.

It's the family's third Christian concert. With recording artist John Waller as the headliner, they are hoping the community will take notice and support their ambition to make Iowa, especially Kalona, a hub for Christian music.

Waller is one of the industry's quickest growing artists. Billboard magazine listed him as one of their musicians to watch in 2007.

What began as a home-school project has blossomed into a series of Christian concerts and seminars at the Iowa Mennonite School.

If the community will back them, Pam Evans and her four daughters, plan to make Kalona a destination spot for upcoming as well as established Christian artists.

They've named their Christian concert ministry Fresh Flow.

"We are building," Pam Evans said, taking a few minutes to rest before feeding the band Dec. 8. "We are putting a lot of effort into the concerts to get people to come.

"Everybody thinks we're crazy, but it's our passion. We wanted to see something fresh coming out."

Helping her are her daughters, Rebekah, 18, Rachel, 16, Sarah, 13 and Hannah, 10.

Because the girls are all big fans of Christian music, and there is not a lot of it in the area, Pam Evans decided to help her girls host a concert as a project.

In July, the girls brought Robin Mark of Northern Ireland to the state.

Though the concert attracted 250 attendees, the girls failed to break even with the endeavor.

Still wanting to give it another shot, they brought in Michael Card in October.

The concerts aren't cheap. They can cost as much as $6,000 or more.

The girls began doing jobs for companies owned by their father, Bill Evans. The jobs at Kalona Organics and Farmers' All Natural Creamery Dairy helped to raise funds for it.

Mom even pitched in and worked.

"It is a lot harder than we thought it would be," said Rachel Evans. "I don't know if it is because it is Kalona, and people think it might not be that great."

The girls do everything from marketing and making and putting up posters to preparing a meal for the band, taking tickets, ushering and cleanup.

Though they have done better financially with the second two concerts, it still is by no means a lucrative endeavor.

That's fine with the girls.

The music is reward enough, they say.

After all, there is something unique and special to a live concert.

"It's (the musicians') personalities," Rebekah said. "You can see what they are really like."

And seeing the audience smile, dance and raise their arms up in praise is reward enough.

"It is like putting on a big meal: You get a lot of enjoyment from watching people enjoy it," Pam Evans said.

The group's next performer is Phil Wickham on Feb. 2.

They plan to bring Robin Mark back in July.

Noah Parks, of Kalona, thinks the Evanses can pull the series off. He was one of the 100 audience members to brave the cold weather Dec. 8 to see John Waller.

"I think it is something the community needed," said Parks, 25. "Everything is going to build on this concert tonight."

Heather Kemp, of Kalona, also is a fan.

"I'm tickled," said Kemp, 25. "Kalona is a Christian community. I hope people will come out and support it."

Doug Stoltzfus, of rural Parnell, thinks the concerts make good use of the school's new auditorium, Celebration Hall.

He and his wife came to the concert after hearing of it on the radio.

"I think it could work, but it will have to be advertised pretty well," Stoltzfus said.

Local worship leaders join together as lead-in band for John Waller concert

12/06/2007

Music ministers from 5 local churches will join together to provide one hour of worship before the John Waller Band takes the stage at the next event scheduled at IMS by Fresh Flow Concerts of Kalona. Pam Evans, director of Fresh Flow Concerts says that she is delighted by this joint effort and thinks it will really add to the concert. Shawn Powell who is the worship leader at Kalona Christian Fellowship is coordinating the joint band along with Rodney Gehman, worship leader at Kalona Mennonite who is also the leader of the popular O2 Band made up of Christian musicians from various churches. Those participating include the following local musicians; Tim Bender, Worship Leader at Upper Deer Creek, Nevin Bontrager of East Union Mennonite, John Miller of East Union and Charlie Stone from Kalona Christian Fellowship. The local musicians are excited about being the opening band for John Waller. He has been on tour with contemporary Christian recording artists Casting Crowns, now at the top of national sales charts.
Evans is excited to bring such an outstanding band to Kalona. She has hired professional sound to supplement what was available at IMS as this band requires a high quality of sound for their performances.
The concert will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday December 8. There will be a ticketed worship/inspirational seminar led by John Waller (open to the public) beginning at 3 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at Jubilee Books in Kalona for $15.00 per adult or $20.00 at the door. The lead-in band will begin playing at 6:30. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. For more information contact Fresh Flow Concerts at 656-2350.

The FOuntain