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In an interview with CNN, MegaFest founder, T. D. Jakes talks about empowering people with the message, including women, men, youths, and prisoners.
Jakes's MegaFest, the second annual gathering with the theme, "It's a Family Affair," is being broadcasted live across the nation into prisons so that those who can't come, can join and receive spiritual healing.
When asked about his message for the inmates, he said, "Life is not over. You can pick yourself up. I believe that we can be the conduit to reduce the rate of incarceration in this country."
"We've not done a good job at rehabilitating inmates. We've done a great job at incarcerating them. We spend billions of dollars incarcerating them. It's turned into a big business. We need to go into the business of rehabilitating them."
Though many people may turn themselves into victims, Jakes says he believes in empowering oneself to become active and involved in life.
"Everybody's got a sad story and get up in the morning and cry all day if you want to, but my message is about empowerment," he said. "You can do it in spite of adversity. All of us have been through trauma. Everybody's got a sad story -- wake up in the morning and cry all day if you want to, or you can get up out of bed and do something about your situation."
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Other than his foundational conference that empowers women, "Woman, Thou Art Loosed!" held around the country since 1993, the mega-church, The Potter's House in Dallas, TX also held ManPower, a conference specifically for men.
This year, Jakes is emphasizing the youth. Inspired by the turnout from last year, he says in a CNN interview that this year, they are focusing on them even more with a MegaYouth Experience.
"We've seen a huge connection with youth people. Last year at MegaFest, thousands and thousands of young people came, and it proved in my mind the idea that if we build it, they will come."
"So this year, we're focusing on them even more, and they're responding with amazing emotional healings, and dealing with their issues."
The mainly African-American mega-event in Atlanta, Ga. is being held from Aug. 3 - 6, 2005.
What is an African-American touchstone as one of the biggest gatherings of black people in the country, is actually a secondary if not irrelevant element.
"It's cross-cultural," said Elvis J. Rose to the Atlanta-Journal. "It's not a black thing."
Movie actor and born-again Christian Stephen Baldwin, also told the local media outlet, "The appeal of Jesus Christ, more than anything else, is what MegaFest is about."
MegaFest offers a variety of different events, including finance seminars, a parade, extreme sports demonstrations, concerts, a career fair, leadership talks, a fashion show, a comedy show, a golf tournament, and others.
