Praise Fest is a day to worship God with music, come together as one community and show the love of God, the Praise Fest coordinator said.

Saturday marks the third annual Praise Fest, a daylong free event that includes a conference and an evening concert, said Ricky Anderson, the coordinator.

The workshop sessions will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with lectures from several local pastors, who will provide students information on how to unite Christian believers, Anderson said.

The concert, from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., will feature a poet, a Christian rapper, a praise mime performance group, as well as two Christian dance teams, Soul Steppers and Calling In Action, Anderson said.

Praise Fest is organized by several Christian, intercultural and inclusiveness organizations on campus in order to promote this year’s theme, “We are sheep of the Shepherd, ” which reflects John 10:16, Anderson said.

Jessica Brown, Word of Truth Ministries president, said the event serves as an opportunity for various ministries on campus to come worship together, pray and build relationships that can better serve the university and Fort Worth.

“It can help connect students to other Christians in the community, as well as show how we can all come together and show the love of Christ,” said Brown, a senior biology major.

Porscha Kelley, a Praise Fest committee member and junior entrepreneurial management major, said Praise Fest is a celebration of students’ faith.

The Praise Fest committee raised money through fundraisers, raffle tickets and donations from local churches to help pay for the event, as well as this year’s philanthropy, Anderson said.

This year’s Praise Fest philanthropy is Village Schools International, which spreads education and the Gospel throughout Africa by setting up long-term schools from the bottom up, Anderson said.

Last year, between 100 and 200 people attended Praise Fest, Anderson said.

“This year we are hoping to increase in attendance, but it’s not all about the numbers,” Anderson said.