About REFF

REDLANDS A CARING COMMUNITY. The Redlands Easter Family Festival was first held on the shores of Raby Bay Cleveland in 2000 and as the result of a vision by Pastor Glen Gray that churches should combine to offer a day of free celebration and Christian witness of the Easter message to the greater Redland City community.

It has grown each year since so that it now takes over the Cleveland Showgrounds with a host of sideshow rides, an animal farm, entertainment acts, children's performers and wide range of kids activities, street theatre, free food and drinks and lots more. It attracts approx 15,000 people, making it the second largest annual event in the Redlands and one of the largest annual Christian festivals, in Australia.

Purpose

While the free food, rides and entertainment for all ages are popular draw cards, the festival is not just about giving a good day out, it provides a unique opportunity for churches to creatively engage with the wider community sharing the Gospel, connecting with people at their point of need or interest and demonstrating a unity of Spirit and service on a scale, not achieved through other ventures.

Key to the festival's success is that it is an activity of the churches in the Redlands. It seeks to represent the breadth and depth of the local Christian communities. Churches are urged to participate in the festival through an active involvement in its planning and operation so that a diverse range of Christian gifts, ministries, services, talents, insights and experiences can be shared.

Organisation

Redlands Easter Family Festival Inc. is an incorporated body governed by its Constitution. An Executive committee is elected at each Annual General Meeting to oversee the preparation of the following year's festival.

General meetings comprise representatives of churches which join the festival through paid membership. These meetings provide policy and planning oversight of festival organisation as well as deal with many practical matters.

Coordinators are appointed to supervise areas of festival operations and they report through the Executive to the general meetings.

Close liaison with the Redlands Minister's Fellowship also helps keep the festival leadership in tune with local churches. The Fellowship assists in the appointment of about 10 pastors or church leaders who constitute an Advisory Board for the festival. This board has no formal status but is consulted as a sounding board to help the festival negotiate issues involving theological or pastoral sensitivity.