Why Jesus Festivals?
Spring of 2023, Paul Maurer, was on a prayer retreat and felt a strong urge to do a community outreach where he grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It was around the same time that a group of people were praying in the city of Escanaba and felt led to ask Paul to come and do an event. This was the start of the Jesus Festival becoming a reality! We really believe that this festival is an answer to the prayers of everyone across the upper state.
If you or somebody you know has struggled with drugs, alcoholism, divorce, anxiety, depression, or suicide we know that JESUS is the real answer to break all chains! With all the chaos in the world today there is a hunger for truth and hope, and we know the answer is Jesus. This is the time for a wave of salvation and freedom to hit the U.P.! We want all who attend to have an incredible day, but most importantly to leave knowing God better than when they came.
At Jesus Festival we will celebrate and lift-up the name of JESUS and there will be fun for the whole family! We want to bless the community and demonstrate the love of the Father with Live Music, Free Food, Lots of Blowups for the Kids, Games, and Giveaways. Everyone will have a great time!
Then towards the evening there will be a message of hope with the gospel being clearly preached. If you aren’t sure what the “gospel” is, no need to worry, Paul’s message will change your life. Bring your friends and family! This is a HISTORIC EVENT for Escanaba. Last year nearly 2,500 gathered and we believe double the people will come in 2024.
Our vision is partnering churches from all over the U.P. coming together from various denominations, under the true gospel of Jesus Christ (Faith and Repentance through the Cross). With hearts set on unity of the church, avoiding the hang-ups of denominational differences, all involved will be serving the people who attend and showing them the love of Jesus. Jesus prayed that we would be one, as the body of Christ, so that the world would believe! (John17:20-23). We know that when churches come together in unity, it will release breakthrough! (Psalm 133)
Please prayerfully consider attending and partnering with us, so that thousands can encounter Jesus at this evangelistic outreach! If you are a pastor or church leader, please go to the CHURCH page to see how your church can partner with us. We need your help and can’t do this without you.
Church Partnership
About Paul Maurer
Paul Maurer is the visionary behind Jesus Festivals. His parents lived all over the Upper Peninsula (Newberry, Houghton, Marquette) before settling down in the little town of Gladstone, MI. There he attended Gladstone High School and was the Homecoming King of his class in 1999. His family attended New Life Church in Escanaba, where they enjoyed being involved in their small community.
When Paul was 16 years old, his father passed in a tragic car accident and the event changed the course of his life. It was one of the hardest things he’s been through but God showed him that He is a Father to the Fatherless. Just a few weeks before the accident, Paul became radically born again, which was a major turning point, and felt a call to ministry. He then attended Bible School at Southwestern A/G University and received his B.A. degree in Church Ministry. In 2007, Paul came on staff at Brownsville Assembly of god in Pensacola, FL as a Youth Pastor.
In 2012, Paul felt the Lord call him to the nations and he pursued missionary work in China. After fruitful ministry working with Buddhists and atheists, a door opened to be personally mentored by Reinhard Bonnke’s successor and President of Christ for all Nations - Evangelist Daniel Kolenda. There he was trained in crusade evangelism.
In 2015, he launched his own evangelistic ministry, Cover the Earth, and he has been having his own gospel crusades all over the world. Since then Paul has led hundreds of thousands of people to Christ in places like Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bulgaria, and all over Africa. He has had the privilege to minister to crowds of up to 500,000 people. He also has been working with the locals in these countries and has active in planting churches in unreached nations. Paul has been a guest on GOD TV, TBN, CTN, and other television networks around the world.