Name: Hundreds attend largely maskless El Cajon concert by evangelical singer Sean Feucht
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Hundreds attend largely maskless El Cajon concert by evangelical singer Sean Feucht

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Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement Hundreds of mostly maskless Christian revelers gathered in an El Cajon park Sunday for a free concert led by evangelical musician Sean Feucht, who has garnered controversy during the coronavirus pandemic by leading massive “Let us Worship” rallies in defiance of public health guidelines.El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, who delivered the concert’s opening prayer, told the Union-Tribune he thinks the event was important because it gave people hope, which he said was badly needed during the pandemic.“I want to emphasize I spoke with Sean (Feucht) who told me contact tracing shows this is not spreading the virus,” Wells said.AdvertisementWells, a Republican, has been critical of coronavirus lockdowns, which he says are not effective in controlling the spread of COVID-19.El Cajon’s city manager, Graham Mitchell, told the Union-Tribune in an email Friday the city was aware of Feucht’s event and that, because of the current health order, they were not issuing a permit . He also noted that the location, Prescott Promenade, is popular with those “wishing to express themselves.”A lone protester, who only gave his name as “Michael,” wore a grim reaper costume, handed out face masks and heckled Feucht via a megaphone.“How many people have you killed due to no masks at your events, Sean?” the man asked repeatedly through his megaphone.After the man began blaring a siren from his megaphone, several people in the crowd began to follow him, praying around him. One man in a gray T-shirt jumped him from behind, put him in a headlock and wrenched the megaphone from his hand. As he ran away, he smashed the megaphone against a concrete bench in the park.El Cajon police officers, who were standing just a few yards from the altercation, did not pursue the man into the crowd despite complaints from the victim. Feucht’s antics have garnered criticism from public health advocates during the pandemic. In Los Angeles, homeless advocates were when he began proselytizing on skid row last month.Feucht courted controversy locally in July when he held a similar event on Cardiff State Beach that drew more than 1,000 worshippers. He told the crowd Sunday that images from that event inspired churches across the country to similarly defy public health orders.After performing several songs, Feucht invited other religious leaders to the stage who began inviting people up who needed to be “born again.” One leader told everyone in the crowd to join hands — many did. Those who came up to the stage were prayed over by other faith leaders who hugged and embraced them. Almost none wore masks.Feucht appears to embrace the criticism from the mainstream. From his merch booth — which had long lines throughout the event — Feucht sells t-shirts that read “Jesus Christ Super-Spreader,” a play on words of the musical Jesus Christ, Superstar. From the stage, faith leaders also encouraged those attending to donate money via the Venmo app or text. For those wishing to donate cash or checks, a guitar case was left open on the stage.During the climatic moment of the concert, attendees were encouraged to yell at the top of their lungs. Public health experts say singing and yelling contributes to the spread of the coronavirus.Mike and Colette Nelson, of San Diego, said the religious mission of the event outweighed any health concerns they had.“I’ve been following Sean and his movement across the county and just seeing lives changed and people getting saved and getting healed and I couldn’t miss it,” Mike Nelson said after the concert. “The virus is real and you’ve got to be cautious and careful but at the same time we should have the freedom to worship.”Neither of the couple wore masks. “How sad would it be if there was a situation where I could reach out and give a saving hand to someone but I looked at them and said, ‘Oh, but they don’t have a mask on,’ so I took a step away?” Collette Nelson said. “I never want the masks to be something that stops us from something because honestly, for us, we know far more people who have committed suicide than who have even gotten COVID. And that’s sad.” Updates Top headlines by email, weekday mornings Get top headlines from the Union-Tribune in your inbox weekday mornings, including top news, local, sports, business, entertainment and opinion. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune. Show Comments Load More Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement

Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement Hundreds of mostly maskless Christian revelers gathered in an El Cajon park Sunday for a free concert led by evangelical musician Sean Feucht, who has garnered controversy during the coronavirus pandemic by leading massive “Let us Worship” rallies in defiance of public health guidelines.El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, who delivered the concert’s opening prayer, told the Union-Tribune he thinks the event was important because it gave people hope, which he said was badly needed during the pandemic.“I want to emphasize I...

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Andrew Dyer

The San Diego Union-Tribune, the region's leading news source since 1868. Follow our journalists, too: http://j.mp/UTstaff

Hundreds attend largely maskless El Cajon concert by evangelical singer Sean Feucht

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