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Christian comedian Justin Fennell in animated action, bringing entertainment to the En Fuego Ministries dinner and auction audience. (Photos by Caroline Carmichael/ADVERTISER)

Christian comedian Justin Fennell spun a performance for mingled laughter and inspiration to give to En Fuego Ministries.

En Fuego Ministries’ silent auction featured donated items from local businesses.

Auctioneer Tommy Glasscock directed the auctioning of items benefitting En Fuego Ministries.

Guests of En Fuego’s dinner and auction were moved by Scott Dawson’s presentation of the mission of En Fuego Ministries.

By CAROLINE CARMICHAEL/ Staff Writer

En Fuego Ministries featured special entertainment from Christian comedian Justin Fennell at its Dinner and Auction Fundraiser, July 13 at Lomax Assembly of God.

All proceeds went to En Fuego Ministries for its annual En Fuego music festival.

En Fuego Ministries kicked off the night at 6 p.m. with a silent auction of items donated by Chilton County businesses. Among its biggest items, which were live auctioned later in the evening, were a pair of Diamond in a Pearl Earrings from Galatea Jewelry and getaways for lake and offshore fishing trips.

Dinner was provided throughout the evening by Peach Park, Durbin Farms Market, Smokey T’s barbecue, Hickory Chip, and Lickin Good Donuts.

Fennell delivered an engaging, interactive comedy performance that incited peals of laughter from dining guests.

Toward the end of the evening, auctioneer and Chilton County superintendent of education Tommy Glasscock brought the heat with his verbal fireball auctioning.

En Fuego added two new special live auction items to this year’s selection: a four-pack bundle of passes to the En Fuego music festival stage pit and a six-pack bundle of VIP passes to the same event, with backstage access to meet performers.

Each live auction item was sold.

En Fuego music festival, which has been described as “The Christian Woodstock of Your Generation”, has taken place each fall since 1997. It has grown by the thousands each year, attracting youth from all over to its vendor lined Verbena property for a free concert and worship led by prominent Christian musicians.

Around 20,000 people attended last year.

This year’s massive, youth-packed event is scheduled to take place Aug. 26 in Verbena on approximately 72 acres of field donated to the event each year since 2002 by landowner Grace Waddell.

Through its fundraisers, En Fuego Ministries is seeking to raise $55,000 to make budget for this year’s music festival, which is fully funded by sponsors and donors. En Fuego Ministries staff is unpaid and receive no profit.

“[Jesus] said if you have the faith of a mustard seed,” Jimmie Hardee, Chilton County commissioner and En Fuego Ministries board member, said of raising needed funds. “And we’re putting our mustard seed in this (fundraiser) tonight.”

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