Keep Showing Up (to the Fair)

When it starts to get cool, it is good to remind ourselves of what can happen outside when its warm enough.

Throughout the summer our ministry sets up tables at multiple fairs to hand out free tracts, books, balloons, and provide an opportunity for conversations about the gospel.

Many Christians have been scared of public evangelism work and tracts due to exaggerated caricatures of Christians preaching on streets or stumps, full of spit and insult.

This could not be further from the truth of what happens at these events. The most spit and insult we’ve seen at our booth ministry has come from the very rare passerby, not our workers.

The real reason people do not do this sort of ministry is that they think it will be hard or that they do not know what to say. Nonsense!

As far as knowing what to say, the very reason for tracts, signs, and books is to speak the words you cannot. This makes booth ministry one of the easiest public ministries to do. Show up and give people free literature.

Of those two things, the hardest work in successful booth ministry is showing up.

At one county fair there is not a single church booth in the whole building despite there being hundreds of churches in the area. Sometimes a church will setup a table for a year or two, but we keep showing up each year.

In the past, one fair administrator even gave us an unexpected award for faithful attendance!

I’m glad to report that showing up is sometimes our biggest problem (though a good problem). Too many volunteers in a booth the size of a Ford truck can be a bit awkward for people walking by trying to figure out why we are all standing in such a small space. This is easily fixed with sign-up sheets and scheduling.

We preach the value of showing up to do ministry.

Showing up casts a vote for sound doctrine.

Showing up gives opportunity for someone else to talk to you.

Showing up allows those who are looking for “religious people” to find you instead of the cult down the way.

Showing up makes a stand for what is eternally important at events designed to distract with temporary pleasure.

Showing up means you are available if help is needed.

Showing up helps relieve other workers who have been there a while already.

Showing up supplies what the Lord has worked in you for the benefit of his service (Eph 4:16).

Showing up encourages other workmen to continue a good work.

Showing up lets visitors and guests see that there are people who care about their salvation and the truth being told.

Showing up means other vendors and table entrepreneurs will come and talk to you.

Showing up gives you ministry experience.

Showing up will help you improve.

Showing up gives you hope when you witness ministry happening in person.

Showing up exercises charity to see the truth benefit other people.

Showing up is how ministry gets done.

Will it take patience? Yes. Will there be slow times? Yes. Will there be some rejection? Sure.

But no ministry will ever happen if you don’t show up.

Every year we see and hear the successes of our fair ministry in the form of conversations, material handed out, and visitors who come back a year or two later (impossible feedback for those that don’t show up next year).

If you are willing to show up, contact your local county fair organization to rent a space, setup a table, print some tracts, find a friend to sit with, and start your own easy public booth ministry to help spread the truth.

You can find descriptions about how we do our fair ministry, here:

Then, show up each summer.

WELCOME

DOCTRINE

MINISTRIES

STAY UPDATED