How to Start a Fair Ministry in Your Church

The late summer months offer many opportunities for evangelistic outreach in your community. County fair booths provide a unique setting in which your church can communicate its message and vision for your community, while making contact with those who need to hear the Gospel. Here are several ideas you will want to incorporate into your fair ministry this summer:

Offer Refreshment- County fair days are often hot and humid. Offer a large cooler of water, lemonade or Gatorade, especially if your booth is not located in an air conditioned building. Be sure to supply disposable cups and napkins for children. You may also want to offer snacks such as cookies or individually packaged snacks.

Use media- If possible, prepare a video or PowerPoint presentation about your church. Include information about the ministries, vision and membership composition of the church that would be helpful to those who are seeking a church home. Show the presentation continuously via laptop computer or television.

Provide literature- If your church does not yet have an informational brochure available, develop and print one prior to the fair ministry. Tracts, Bibles, devotional books, sample church bulletins and church statements of faith should also be made available.

Use visual aids and object lessons- Items such as the EvangeCube (available through www.evangecube.org) and God's Bridge to Eternal Life tract (available through www.majestic-media.com) are excellent resources for use in your fair ministry. After your church workers have begun conversations with people from the community and invited them to church, they can present the Gospel to those who are interested using one of these methods.

Appeal to children- Bored or impatient children will cause parents to walk quickly by your display. Avoid this by offering items specifically for children. Evangelism tools such as the Wordless Book, rope tricks and balloon object lessons may be presented to children to keep their attention and teach them about salvation while their parents are talking with church volunteers.

Perfect the atmosphere- County fairs can foster a hurried atmosphere. Counteract this influence by setting up a booth that is inviting and comfortable. Use a large, high-quality banner to introduce your church. Employ an attractive area rug and place your tables on the outskirts and back of your area. This will give the feeling that you are welcoming people into your space to get to know them.

Enlist volunteers- It may be helpful to to pass a sign-up sheet around your church auditorium or in individual Sunday school classes. Ask that people sign up in pairs for 1-hour blocks of time. Most county fair boards mandate that booths must be manned at all times, from the time the gates are opened in the morning until they are locked at night.

Prepare your help- Many Christians are timid about placing their faith out for public inspection. While this reservation is understandable, these indviduals need encouragement to be open about their relationship with God. While they should not "push" or "force" their beliefs on passersby, they need to be trained to know how to share their faith when they are asked. Consider setting up a few meetings with new volunteers prior to the fair ministry beginning. During this time you can train them on effective ways to share their faith with others.

For more information and resources to help you with your fair ministry, visit Amazing Grace Mission at www.agm-fcci.org.