Josiah Queen Leads Memorable Opening Night at RiseFest 2026
A powerful opening night for RiseFest at the RiseFest Festival Grounds in Sheldon, IA, June 12, 2026
RiseFest reached two major milestones this year, and thanks to the generosity of Rise Ministries, I was able to spend both days experiencing what has become one of the Midwest’s premier Christian music festivals. The organization celebrated 25 years of ministry while RiseFest itself marked its 20th anniversary.
For those unfamiliar with Rise Ministries, they are a Christian nonprofit dedicated to reaching and inspiring communities with the transforming hope of Jesus. Through large-scale events, creative media, discipleship resources, and partnerships with churches and leaders, their goal extends far beyond hosting concerts. Their mission is to create meaningful encounters with Jesus that lead to lasting life change. Looking ahead, Rise Ministries hopes to reach 2.5 million people over the next five years with the hope of the Gospel.
A Festival Built for More Than Music
The scale of RiseFest becomes apparent the moment you arrive on the grounds. The festival site is massive, and for good reason.
While live music may be the centerpiece, there was no shortage of activities throughout the weekend. Families could be found enjoying inflatable attractions, cornhole, volleyball, and a towering rock-climbing wall. There were enough activities spread across the grounds that it would have been impossible to experience them all in a single day.
One side of the festival grounds was lined with food vendors offering everything needed to keep attendees fueled throughout the weekend. In the summer heat, one of the most appreciated features was the free water refill station, which made it easy for attendees to stay hydrated without constantly purchasing bottled water.
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More Than Music, It’s Mission
As the first artists prepared to take the stage, RiseFest’s theme for the weekend was introduced.
More than music, it’s mission.
That message became the thread that connected every performance throughout the day. While seeing favorite artists live is exciting, every artist on the lineup brought songs, stories, and testimonies centered on Christ. The weekend was designed not simply to entertain but to point people toward the One who makes everything possible.
The transitions between artists were remarkably smooth. Between sets, festival hosts and speakers kept the energy moving while sharing encouragement and messages of faith. The result was a day that never felt stagnant despite the number of artist changes taking place behind the scenes.
Sunnybrook Worship Opens the Weekend
The first music of RiseFest 2026 came from Sunnybrook Worship out of Sioux City, Iowa.
Their set served as the perfect introduction to the weekend. Rather than immediately launching into a concert atmosphere, Sunnybrook created the feeling of a Sunday morning worship service. Lyrics displayed across the massive side screens encouraged the crowd to sing along, transforming the opening set into a communal worship experience.
It was an effective way to ease thousands of attendees into the weekend while establishing the Christ centered focus that would define the rest of the day.
Terrian Brings Energy and Joy
The second artist to take the stage was Terrian.
While I had never seen her perform a full set before, I was familiar with her from TobyMac’s touring lineup when I saw him in 2023. During her set she spoke fondly about that experience, adding a personal touch to an already engaging performance.
Terrian’s energy was infectious from the moment she stepped on stage. What surprised me most was how many of her songs I already knew. Highlights included “Testimony,” “He Sees You,” and “Give It Time.”
One of the more memorable moments came while introducing her band. Terrian shared that her backup vocalist was actually her younger sister. Family connections seem especially common throughout Christian music, whether on stage or behind the scenes, and it always adds something special to a performance.
By the end of her set, Terrian had completely won me over.
Ben Fuller Shares a Story of Redemption
Following Terrian’s high energy performance, Ben Fuller shifted the tone in a more reflective direction.
His music carries significant emotion, but that’s what makes it so impactful. Fuller openly shared pieces of his testimony, including his past struggles with addiction and the redemption he found through Christ.
That testimony gives songs like “Black Sheep” a deeper meaning. Hearing him speak about being seven years sober offered genuine encouragement to anyone walking through similar struggles.
One of the standout moments of his set was “If I Got Jesus,” a song that perfectly captured the message he shared throughout the afternoon.
More than anything, I left Fuller’s performance feeling encouraged and hopeful.
Josiah Queen Delivers a Headlining Moment
The Friday night headliner was the artist I had been anticipating most.
Josiah Queen has been on my concert bucket list since “The Prodigal” exploded onto the Christian music scene, and his RiseFest performance exceeded every expectation I had.
From the moment he took the stage, his energy never seemed to slow down. Whether running along the barricade, switching between guitar and piano, or engaging directly with the crowd, he commanded attention without ever feeling forced.
The most memorable portion of the set came when Queen and his band left the stage entirely and moved into the audience. Gathered around a small platform designed to resemble a campfire setting, they delivered a stripped down segment that created one of the most intimate moments of the entire festival.
After the band stepped away, Trinity Queen joined her husband on the platform. As Josiah continued playing guitar, Trinity shared a brief message that tied together many of the themes present throughout the evening.
What could have felt like a pause in the concert instead became a natural extension of it. Her words flowed seamlessly into the songs that followed, creating a moment that felt authentic rather than scripted.
Queen closed the night with the two songs I had been hoping to hear most with “Demons” and “The Prodigal.”
Seeing him perform live for the first time would have been enough. Seeing him headline the opening night of one of the Midwest’s largest Christian music festivals made the experience even more memorable.
Afterglow
Once the final notes faded and thousands of attendees began making their way toward the parking lots, another impressive part of RiseFest revealed itself.
The exit process was unbelievably smooth.
Despite the sheer number of vehicles leaving at the same time, the volunteer parking team kept traffic moving efficiently. After a long day on your feet, that level of organization is something you quickly learn to appreciate.
As I drove away from the festival grounds, I kept returning to the theme introduced before the first artist ever stepped on stage.
More than music, it’s mission.
The music was excellent. The artists were encouraging. The production was outstanding. Yet what made Day 1 special was how consistently every testimony, every message, and every song pointed back to Jesus.
I left RiseFest encouraged, challenged, and grateful to have experienced it.
If you’ve never attended RiseFest, I would strongly recommend marking June 11-12, 2027, on your calendar. If Day 1 was any indication, the future of this festival remains incredibly bright.
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