CRESTVIEW — For Stephen Booe, co-organizing Saturday's Rise and Unite Music Festival was fruitful.
"I’d call the festival well worth the time and effort," he said in an email. "(Rainy) weather and all sure stopped a lot of participation, but it did not stop God … with 44 youth and adults turning their lives over to the Lord."
PHOTOS: See 12 photos from the Rise and Unite Music Festival >>
Attendees listened to live Christian music and testimony from guest speakers, and could speak with church volunteers about matters of faith.
Holt resident Elizabeth Klabuhn shared how her faith helped her overcome a thiamine, or vitamin B-1, deficiency called Wernicke encephalopathy.
Two bilateral strokes left her with memory loss, a speech impediment and often dependent on walking crutches.
"I used to have a photographic memory; now I'm lucky to remember what I had for breakfast," she said.
Through the ordeal, Klabuhn never lost her faith.
"I don't know how to explain it, but God has kept me here … he saw me through this and he did not have to."
During the festival, she found inspiration from other guest speakers, she said.
"I think it's a positive influence in our community and the people in our community," she said.
Jamyah Shinholster agreed.
"It's kind of fun and it's helping people who have problems," the 10-year-old said.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Event organizer: 44 saved during weekend festival (PHOTOS)