Saturday morning worship led by Ever Stays Red along with devotions by Chris Hill opened the third and final day of Spirit West Coast 2008. Performances by Group 1 Crew and Todd Agnew took place on the main stage, while My Second Chance, MOI, and The Red Airplane played at various stages around the venue.

Former Newsboys bassist Phil Joel promoted his new rock record, The New Normal, on the K-Life Camp Meeting stage Saturday afternoon. Joel satisfied Newsboys fans by performing his own version of the Newsboys hit “Entertaining Angels,” and tested out a new song, “Don’t Waste Your Life” on the audience. Joel’s message deliberatePeople encouraged listeners to develop a deliberate plan to pursue God and serve Him. He promoted his children’s album, deliberateKids on the Veggie Tales stage earlier Saturday.

Kutless launched the evening set for the main stage, appearing on stage in puffs of smoke and strobe lights. Their sound was quite a bit heavier than many of the other bands at the festival, but young and old alike gathered to watch. After the harder sounds of “Hearts of the Innocent” and the title track of their new album, “To Know That You’re Alive,” the band toned things down for the well-known worship songs “Word of God Speak” and “Strong Tower,” encouraging the crowd to sing along. Frontman James Mead prepared the audience members to jump and pump their fists in the air for “Pride Away” by delaying his performance until the crowd was riled up. Most spectators complied, even from the grandstands, as Mead declared, “You are never too old to rock!” Kutless finished strong when all band members froze until Mead let out a scream releasing them and ending their set.

SWC creator and producer Jon Robberson made a stage appearance to announce that about 60 people were baptized earlier Saturday afternoon and that SWC would be hosting its first ever Sunday communion in the morning.

Speaker Bob Lenz then delivered his humorous and touching message, Tim to the World, and promoted Compassion International, a charity that brings healthcare, education, and the message of Christ to impoverished youths around the world. Lenz’s main topics were human trafficking and poverty. He also related personal experiences in learning to balance his faith and friends in his youth, telling of his experiences learning to stand strong in his faith among his non-Christian peers.

After performing on Friday night last year, Newsboys returned to their show-closing, Saturday night time slot for the final main stage performance of Spirit West Coast ’08. With the catwalk specially set up for them, and the audience packed in, Newsboys did more than satisfy hyped fans. The band opened with “Everywhere We Go,” setting the upbeat mood for the set, and continuing with the heartfelt “Something Beautiful.” Fans sang loudly to familiar worship song “Blessed Be Your Name,” and lead vocalist Peter Furler bent down and turned the microphone toward the crowd to let them sing. He then gave a powerful introduction to “He Reigns,” quoting scripture and segueing in by loudly whispering a dramatic “Do not fear.”

The band members made their way to the end of the runway for “Amazing Love” and “Shine.” As Furler shouted “Breakfast,” the crowd roared and prepared their boxes of Cap’n Crunch and awaited the chorus. When they heard the words “When the toast is burned / and all the milk has turned / and Cap’n Crunch is waving farewell / When the big one finds you / may this song remind you / that they don’t serve breakfast in hell,” the audience tossed the cereal into the air in a frenzy. Fans had been unable to participate in the Cap’n Crunch party last year because Newsboys performed Friday night and clean-up would have interfered with Saturday morning events.

The band left the stage following “Breakfast,” but chants of “Newsboys” brought them back for a two-song encore. They sang “Your Love is Better Than Life” which included an impressive drum duet with Peter Furler complete with drumstick flips. After Furler proclaimed, “Who the Son sets free is free indeed” and pumped up the crowd with pronouncements of his faith and freedom, Newsboys concluded with “I Am Free.” Newsboys did not disappoint as the final headliners of this year’s festival.