‘Winning Our World’ is first annual event in St. John Parish with free gifts for just about everyone

By BEN LUNDIN

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – The word of God echoed loudly in the voices of 2,000 people at the New Wine Christian Fellowship for a community festival sponsored by the religious non-profit organization Winning Our World (WOW), the first of what will be an annual event in St. John Parish.

The sponsored event, called a WOW Jam, showcased a variety of free gifts and services, including 1000 plants, 200 bags of groceries, children’s bikes, CD players, manicures, haircuts, and enough jambalaya for 1000 people.

&#8220When you invite people without a hidden agenda and just to be a blessing, we believe that’s the secret to really enjoy God’s blessing in our lives,” New Wine Christian Fellowship Pastor Neil Bernard said.

Residents without transportation were shuttled in with two busses from TIPS to join the festivities from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and preachers were on hand to give water baptisms and share the word of God.

The festival was in the works for three-and-a-half weeks with the help of WOW, which is led by Stephen and Linda Tavani and hosts these events throughout the nation. Bernard hopes to hold another two WOW jams next March on the West Bank and East Bank.

&#8220When you’re determined to bless your community and be a source of blessing, it opens their hearts and they realize God is good,” Bernard said.

&#8220The kids needed it after LEAP tests that week,” said Maj. Mike Tregre, who donated two children’s bicycles for the event. &#8220My kids didn’t want to leave, it was very nice.”