Photo: The crowd at a past Off the Charts, (OTC) Christian music festival in Cavalier, N.D. Photo courtesy of the OTC Facebook page.

By Dave Stucke, communications associate.

Boundless growth—that’s what is happening in the northeast community of Cavalier, ND, as they prepare for this weekend’s fifth annual Off The Charts (OTC) music festival. What started out as a way to engage youth locally, has grown in size and scope every year, attracting a crowd of families from a three-state area and Canada.

Sandy Marquardt, pastor at Trinity UMC in Cavalier, ND, said Trinity had been hosting an ecumenical youth group called “liGht”, which organized the first Off The Charts music festival in 2012. This year's OTC festival is August 20-21, 2016.

“The resounding success led the group to realize that OTC would quickly become too big for them to manage," said Marquardt. "So an OTC board was set up to handle the workload.”

Now, over a dozen local persons from five churches and several businesses handle the organization of this outdoor festival in the park. The group sares one common goal and tere is a strong spirit of cooperation, and of accomplishment through their faith.

The bands that play are well-known recording artists, and this year’s festival will feature Big Daddy Weave as the headliner, and also feature Hawk Nelson, Plumb, We Are Messengers, Remedy Drive, and The Color.

With an event of this size, the work and expense of putting it all together can be daunting. There are communications with the bands, facilities, fundraising (it’s all free), laser tag, mega-trampolines, and inflatables, and it all needs to be well-orchestrated.

Kent Schluchter, a local farmer and member at Trinity UMC, said, “I’m kind of the troubleshooter, and I rotate from station to station to make sure all’s running smoothly.” Schluchter also said it’s not without a cost… the festival is again happening just as the wheat harvest is beginning, so he is forced to miss some meetings and miss some work time to balance his load.

Schluchter can also remember when the budget was less than half of what is is today, but with prayer an dedication, the festival’s growth is supported. “Last year’s budget was $70,000; we thought, there’s no way we can raise that, but ‘boom’, it happened,” Schluchter said, “Being on the board is also about not doubting so much. There are a few who set the budget, and it always seems high, but somehow it seems to works out.”

Both United Methodist churches of the Cavalier Parish take part in this event, but in different ways. In addition to Trinity UMC, Cavalier FIrst UMC will host a food booth at OTC, serving their original specialty... rhubarb slushes and rhubarb floats.

This year, during a July board meeting, there was concern about a $2,000 shortfall in the festival budget for expenses, but a board member spoke up and asked them all to trust in the Lord, who will provide. The next day, an anonymous donation of $2,000 balanced their budget, and again boosted their optimism about this year’s event and the ministry it will provide.

When asked about the purpose - the ministry - of the event, he added, “Every year, we’ve had people show up at the festival who decide to accept Jesus as their savior, and because of the smaller-scale of the festival, there are often band members who take time to meet  with guests and share their faith,” said Schluchter.

Schluchter remembers a fellow who contacted the staff during the festival one year, and said a band’s message had really touched his heart. He requested to speak with one of the band members who had written and performed the music. That band member had time, came over to meet with the man, and the man accepted Christ on the spot. It’s those types of transformations, Schluchter said, that help you realize why you pour yourself into this.

OTC Website: http://www.offthechartsnd.com/
OTC on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/offthechartsnd