While some students officially began their spring break, many dancers, actors, singers and musicians were jammin’ at Jamfest 7.

‘This year we decided to go more toward the CSUN students,’ said Devon Johnson, president of Hope Fellowship and member of the Mu Lambda Psi Christian Fraternity. ‘We do everything on the spirit of excellence.’

Jamfest is an annual gospel concert put on by Hopes Fellowship, a campus ministry that is a part of the church Hopes House, located in Granada Hills. It’s one of several events that make up Jesus Week, organized from March 29 to April 3.’

‘The atmosphere is fun,’ said Joseph Brown, member of Hopes House and Mu Lambda Psi Christian Fratertinity, who sang on the ‘Hopes House’ praise and worship team. ‘It’s geared toward getting young students closer to god.’

Hopes House pastors, Charles and Andrea Humphrey, are given credit for starting Jamfest.

‘We wanted to have a high quality, affordable concert with gospel music that could reach out to the campus,’ said Charles Humphrey, a CSUN alumni.

What started four years ago with the idea of Jesus Week, has now gained momentum.

The event of Jesus Week included Jericho Walk (a night of prayer at the Oviatt Library’s steps), The Praise Yard Show (a night in which Christian artist and the Christian Fraternities perform), Unity Night (a night where campus ministries come together for a midweek church service), a Christian Fashion Show and Jamfest.’

‘Jamfest gives students a chance to run a professional concert from the marketing to sound, it all ran by students,’ said Johnson ‘A lot of people don’t realize the gifts here on campus.’

The concert had a little bit of everything. It also included a performance by the group SWAGGA, an acronym for Saved with a God Given Anointing, whose members include Sir Guidance and Kalione. Although they don’t classify their music as gospel, they say their music ‘is all about knowledge, wisdom, love, getting back to the brothers and men of Christ,’ according to Sir Guidance, a CSUN alumni.

‘I got saved here and I want to give back,’ said Sir Guidance.

SWAGGA is currently working on their mixtape named ‘Churches ‘amp; Liquor Stores,’ which refers to the fact that in neighborhoods there’re churches and liquor stores. ‘Which way do we go? We want to help those people,’ said Sir Guidance.

Jamfest featured performer JR, a member of the alternative gospel group ‘Cross Movement.’ Other performers included W.H.I.M dance ministry, the Impact Praise Team of Hope’s House, gospel artist Amber Riley, the Mu Lambda Psi step team and Darnell Edwards.

According to those in attendance, Jamfest 7 was a great success.

‘Amazing experience, great concert,’ said Gerald Kaye, a CSUN alumni mixed among the crowd. ‘The performers were on point, I can’t wait until next year.’

‘It was good God really showed up,’ said Jonathan Narcisso, a junior at CSUN ‘I believe a lot of people were changed.”

‘With 35,000 students, we must affect as many as we can with the message of Jesus Christ,’ concluded Pastor Humphrey.