Witnessing At Iowa State Fair 2018

Words cannot express how awesome this year was witnessing at the Iowa State Fair this year. This was the first time since 2004 we have been able to do witnessing inside the fair, instead of just witnessing outside the gates, talking to people leaving or going in, or people parking cars on their front lawns. This was a huge opportunity to be a part of.

Answers In Genesis Booth: August 9-14

Pella Tulip Time Festival was a great outreach not only for me witnessing, but meeting more evangelists, becoming friends and also networking with them. Not only with those from Iowa, but all over the U.S.. It was at this festival where I met guys like Tony Ramsek from Answers In Genesis. While I was at Tulip Time he invited me to join him and others to work the Answers In Genesis Creation Booth at the Iowa State Fair. Starting July 11, I signed up and started my Creation Apologetics 101 training and completed it a few weeks later. This was necessary tools to work the booth, and prepare me to answer tough questions in Creation Apologetics. 

The highlight of the booth was an 8 foot replica of Noah's Ark under glass with two trains underneath to show in relation how big the ark would be. It was pretty cool to share with people how big the ark would be in relation to the Varied Industries Building where we were. It was neat to see their eyes light up when I said that the ark was 10 feet longer than the building and 7 stories high! But what was even cooler was to share how the ark only had one door for salvation from the water. This was a picture of Jesus, the only way to salvation and escape hell. 

We also had a station where we gave children and some adults tattoos, which were the biggest and brightest tattoos of the entire fair. As I am writing this on August 20th, my tattoo I put on my leg is still visible since the start of the fair on August 9th! This is what I wrote on my Facebook wall about putting tattoos on kids. 

"Matthew 19:14 - "Jesus said, Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

For the past 2 days for the most part I have been putting these tattoos on children. From the outside looking in, one might call it a failure and a waste of resources. One person said to me that ive been to really rough environments, shared Christ to the toughest cults, and open air preached to people who would rather see me dead, and here I am giving kids tattoos. Though I imagine I've done several hundred tattoos or even more, I have enjoyed each one. I find it that I am more blessed than they are. Here I get to fully engage children, hold their hands, or arms, or even legs, look them in the eye, and tell them how much God loves the, cares for them, and that He even sent His own Son so that they can be with Him forever. That Jesus is the ARK for today. The only Ark with the only door for the only way that leads to salvation. Any other time this is not possible. I am an extremely blessed man."

 The booth also had a plethora of tracts, booklets, DVD's and featured two TV's displaying videos of the Ark Encounter in Kentucky, where they built a life-size ark. We met many people who were planning a trip, or have already gone.

The booth did attract the attention of cults as well. I personally spoke with 3 Mormons, 2 Jehovah's Witnesses, and we even had the President of the Iowa Atheist group come. Most of his time was telling us how sad we were and hardly got a word in.

Gideon's International Booth: August 10th

I was also blessed to be a part of the first ever Gideon's International booth at the Iowa State Fair. We were located on the East Exhibition Hall underneath the grandstands. Here we gave out personal worker's testaments to adults and testaments to kids 5th through 12th grade. We did have a young man named Vince, who spent alot of time getting questions answered. He was a professed atheist, but was really interested in what the bible had to say. The group worked very well with each other, and throughout the fair days there were calls and emails for more pocket testaments needed for the booth. It was a great success and hope this will continue in the future. 

Interview on 99.3 FM The Truth Radio: August 10th

Probably the amazing unexpected thing happened that I couldn't have forseen. While I was waiting for the bus to get to the fair, Chris Rohloff, Station General Manager of 99.3 fm The Truth, contacted me through Facebook Messenger and asked Tony Didlo or I, if we would like to be on the radio talking about evangelism in the Iowa State Fair. Since Tony couldn't get there this year, I volunteered to be on the show Faith Works Live with Mike Demastus and Chris Rohloff.  

The radio spot went well, and I was really excited to be a part of it. Without going into great detail I talk about how the Iowa State Fair affected me in ministry, conquering fear, and answering other questions regarding witnessing at the fair. You can listen to it HERE on facebook. My spot starts at 20:15 and lasts two segments between commercials. 

Even though I only spent the 9th through the 14th doing evangelism at the fair, it was an unbelievable time spent serving God and promoting the gospel of Christ. It was really cool working together with other evangelists, learning from each other, fellowshiping with one another, and being the church we were called to be. I love the men and women whom I work with, and look forward to being together again.