Faithfulness

The Iowa State Fair outreach with the Answers in Genesis and Gideon booths have been amazing. So many people wanting help, needing questions answered, and not knowing they need the blood of Christ to cleanse them from sin until coming in and checking us out. It is going to be difficult to capture every conversation we have with the people we come in contact with. It is truly incredible what God is doing with us, even if most of the time we are equipping the saints for the work of the ministry.

Last Thursday morning at the AiG booth we were pretty fat with helpers. Since I really haven’t had any time to myself, I wanted to go out and see things I haven’t seen before. I first checked out the State Fair Museum which was really cool. It’s kind of off the beaten path and on the edge of the fairgrounds, but if you haven’t seen it before it is definitely worth the walk. Even if you don’t go inside, the amazing wrap-around porch and comfortable rocking chairs in the quiet atmosphere will put you to sleep if you are not careful.

After getting a corndog I sat in my favorite spot under the shade of Pella Plaza with limited noise and visual stimulation, which makes it the perfect place to do one-on-one evangelism.

What is he doing?

As I was sitting there, I noticed a very elderly man approaching people on the bench. He sits right next to them, getting uncomfortably close. He says something I cannot hear and then they exchange some discourse and the couple leaves. He then proceeds to the next bench, then on to the third. Either this guy is selling something, asking for money, or sharing his faith. I proceeded to finish my corndog and wait patiently for him to approach me. For some reason, I was drawn to him.

After the man whom he is talking to gets up and leaves, he eyes me up, approaches, and sits down next to me. With a very weak and soft voice he says, “Can I ask you a question? Are you ready for eternity?”

“Yes, I am,” I responded… “because of Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, who cleansed me of my sin when I repented and put my trust and faith in Him twenty years ago. He took my sin and imputed to me His righteousness, and has given me His Holy Spirit as a guide and security deposit that I will go to heaven.”

His eyes widened. “Yes, repentance and faith, repentance and faith. Two sides of the same coin. I think you are the only one that has ever given me the correct answer.”

“And how long is that?”

“I received Christ as a boy and started sharing the gospel almost immediately. Oh, maybe sixty years or more?”

“Wow! Sixty years sharing the gospel? You know, you are the first person in twenty years that has ever approached and shared Jesus to me. What’s your name, sir?”

“Frank.”

I have to admit, I was a little freaked out. I don’t know why my brain instantly went to: you are talking to your future self; but as rare as the name, “Frank” is, it is even rarer that someone shared the gospel to me on the streets.

“What’s your full name?”

“Frank Henry Harder. That’s the name my father gave me.”

“Well, Mr. Harder this has been very encouraging to me. Can I get a picture with you?”

The conversation continued for at least a half hour, and I could tell he was equally enjoying our time together. We then prayed for each other, and I asked him to stop by the Answers in Genesis booth when he came back from lunch.

Frank came in and said hello when I was placing tattoos on children. The look on his face was pure joy. I was hoping to introduce him to some of our team, but for some reason he left as quickly as he came in. He took some booklets and tracts, and when he walked out, he was deeply moved.

Though none go with me…

Imagine faithfully waking up every day for sixty years and sharing the gospel even though no one else will go with you; not even in your small home fellowship. Then one day you meet this fellow with the same name, doing the same thing. But not only that, there is a huge booth in the middle of the busiest part of the fair inside with air conditioning and Christians from all denominations sharing the gospel and openly handing out gospel literature free of charge and changing the lives they come in contact with. I could only imagine how overcome with emotion he could have been feeling. For possibly the first time in his life he discovered — he was never alone.

You are not alone either.

You might be faithfully sharing the gospel and increasingly getting weary of doing it alone. Remember, you are not alone. “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Galatians 6:9) For years I shared the gospel by myself and very few of those I fellowshipped with have ever taken part. This is not an uncommon problem in the faith. Like me, you may have to expand your network and hook up with other churches who are doing the work. In doing that you will gain so much more: friendships, knowledge, growth, experiences, being discipled by strong like-minded believers, and so much more.

Consider joining us at the creation booth next year for the 2024 Iowa State Fair with my friend, Jon Neifert of Tulip Gospel Outreach at the helm. I guarantee you will be amazed what God can do through you.