‘Blessed to see God work in people’s lives’: MBCB evangelism director looks back on years of ministry

By Lindsey Carraway
Writing Specialist

JACKSON, Miss. — Each year, people representing every culture in Mississippi travel from all over the state to downtown Jackson for the lively Mississippi State Fair. Whether they attend as a vendor or a visitor — or even a contender for best show animal — Mississippi Baptists are on site to invite them to a saving relationship with Christ. 

Fairgoers walking down the midway may be familiar with the white Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (MBCB) tent filled with friendly faces. For the past few years, Don Lum, MBCB director of evangelism, has stood outside the tent, waving visitors over with a welcoming smile. In exchange for just three minutes of their time, they had a chance to put their name in for a prize. All they had to do was listen to a volunteer describe the greatest true story in human history: the Gospel. 

From all over Mississippi, partnering churches have sent teams of volunteers whose presence increases the opportunity for Gospel conversations. At this year’s fair, 127 Mississippi Baptists shared their testimonies a total of 2,551 times. 

As a result, 248 fairgoers prayed to receive Christ. 

Love for People

Lum’s ministry has been characterized by his clear and sincere love for people. As he looks toward his retirement later this fall, he emphasized, “In a way, I’m not retiring. I’m retiring from the work here at the Convention, but God called me to a lifetime of ministry.” 

Although he is not sure what his next chapter will look like, Lum trusts that God will continue to use him to serve and love the local church. 

As a senior in high school, Lum considered working in dentistry. He enjoyed the thought of helping new and regular clients. But as he approached graduation, God called him to church ministry. In a different way, Lum was still able to help new and familiar faces as he served people and developed relationships in and outside the church. 

After graduation, Lum attended Belhaven University for two years before transferring to Mississippi Christian University, making many friendships that he has maintained over the years. He and his wife, Patricia, then moved to study at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, after which he was hired as the youth minister at First Baptist Church, Columbia. 

“Usually a youth minister stays at one church for about five years and then moves on,” said Lum, “but I wound up staying 18 years. Students that were born the year I came graduated the year I left!”

Lum looks back fondly on the many lessons he learned from mentors and ministry, from planning and implementing ministry strategies, to things as basic yet vital as “loving on people” in Jesus’ name. His goal and motto throughout student ministry was “to help teenagers become independently dependent upon God” by helping them to establish a firm foundation of faith and biblical understanding before entering the next stage of life. 

When ministry was difficult, Lum thrived by “looking for and remembering the victories. I learned quickly that it’s a step-by-step process,” he said, “but I began to appreciate and enjoy seeing the positive steps in people’s lives. We all make mistakes, and sometimes students make more than they share. But throughout ministry, I have focused on celebrating the good things God has done in people’s lives.”

Over the last 30 years, Lum has continued to visit “those good folks” at First Baptist Church, Columbia, whenever possible. 

Directly out of student ministry, God opened the door for Lum to work in promoting, resourcing, and training churches in evangelism at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board. 

“The greatest highlight of working here was getting to serve Mississippi Baptists,” said Lum. “I’ve had the best job in the world because I’ve worked with the greatest people, both here at ‘the Baptist Building’ and in the local church. 

“Another highlight is that evangelism is such a varied ministry. There are so many things that I’ve been able to do.”

Rodeo and State Fair Ministries

Similar to the state fair ministry, the evangelism department has set up a tent every year since 2016 at the national rodeo held at the state fairgrounds. 

The idea for this outreach started out of Lum’s participation in a separate evangelistic ministry at a national, high school-level rodeo competition in Wyoming. Invited to help work the outreach booth, Lum witnessed how hundreds of students, parents, and attendees had the opportunity to accept Christ because one team of believers brought the Gospel to them. Lum took the idea back to Mississippi and began the process of implementing the ministry here. 

In 2020, Andy Gipson, Mississippi agriculture and commerce commissioner, called with a question Lum previously had only dreamed of: “I see what y’all are doing — would you like to do it at the state fair?” The next year, in the same location on the midway, Mississippi Baptists were there to welcome visitors to the fair.

“The two free things at the fair are the biscuits and us,” Lum laughed. “It doesn’t cost you a dime to come into our tent!”

Next to seeing people accept Jesus Christ as their savior, working at the tent also blesses volunteers in their own faith. Many volunteers arrive nervous to share their testimony, thinking it personally impossible to present the Gospel in three minutes. Lum shared how, every year, he enjoys seeing students and adults gain confidence through the safe and relaxed environment of the tent. 

In the first year of the rodeo ministry, one senior in high school admitted, “I don’t know if I can do this.” After watching the student pastor and his own friends share their testimonies, however, he jumped right in with the rest. Lum has seen that same spiritually uplifting phenomenon happen to volunteers of all ages and stages of life, year after year.

“If they simply show up and are willing to try, God takes people and helps them step out of their comfort zone,” said Lum. “Every hesitant volunteer I’ve known has walked away thanking the Lord for letting them come and be a part of something they didn’t know they could do. It’s really neat to see God make those victories happen.”

In the “buckle” of the Bible belt, it is easy to look over the lostness still prevalent in Mississippi. Lum reminded, “Mississippi needs the Gospel, and believers are called to step out of our church buildings and take it to them.”

As Mississippi Baptists do just that, Lum encourages his brothers and sisters in Christ to celebrate the victories God has brought about in people’s lives.

“When we get to heaven, I believe we will get to see all the ways God has used us,” said Lum. “He will show us people we’ve had an impact on, and I think He will not only do that, but will also show us the people who have impacted our lives. I know a lot of people who have impacted mine.”