The 2024 Mississippi State Fair is set for Oct. 3-14. Each year, the fair draws thousands of people to the state capitol to enjoy rides, food and Mississippi culture. This opens a great avenue for Mississippi Baptists to share the Gospel.
The Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (MBCB) has participated in fair evangelism since 2020 after a successful six years of sharing the Gospel at the Dixie National Rodeo. The evangelism tent sits across from the famous free biscuit booth between two highly-trafficked entrances, creating the perfect environment to reach the masses. In 2023, over 2,000 fairgoers heard the Gospel and 269 people gave their lives to Christ.
“We give folks an opportunity to come to the fair and share Jesus. Of course, we are all commanded to do that. We know that that’s what the Bible tells us. This is a way they can actually come and share their faith with people in a really good environment,” said Don Lum, MBCB Director of Evangelism.
Churches, other groups, and individuals are invited to work the tent with no prior evangelism experience needed. Time slots are in two and two-and-a-half hour increments, but groups are welcome to sign up for more than one slot.
Fair evangelism offers a safe place for Christians to share their faith, especially for those who have never done so or don’t know how. Lum and his team have seen several people build their confidence as they speak with more and more fairgoers.
“And after [sharing] happens once or twice, [they’re] ready to go. So it’s an opportunity for folks to come, but not feel like they’re out on a limb by themselves. They can actually learn what they’re doing. Hardly does anybody ever leave and not feel good about having been there and doing what they do,” Lum commented.
To sign up for the MBCB fair evangelism tent, contact the Evangelism Department at 601-292-3278 or lburris@mbcb.org.
