Boone County Fair, IA 2025

The Gideons of Boone were in need of assistance once again for men to man the booth at the Boone County Fair from July 17-20. They requested help with distributing Gideon New Testaments featuring Psalms and Proverbs. I jumped at the chance to step in and take on the challenge on the 18th and 19th.

When I arrived at the parking lot on the first day, I was surprised to see it full, with cars in the lot and outside the gate along the road. However, once inside, I was puzzled to find that the place wasn’t as crowded as expected. Our booth located inside the air-conditioned building wasn’t as good as last year, and a little cramped, with more vendors piled inside, I could see why. Like last year I brought a bunch of tracts as well to strike up conversation with those who reject a pocket testament, but curious enough to take a million-dollar bill. I gave a few away the first day, but it was the second day that really was amazing.

The next day, Saturday, there were slightly more people than Friday, but it still looked sparce. I was determined to get into a one-on-one conversation about the gospel and not just hand out Bibles. So, I lead off with questions as I handed them out.

A group of eight teens came through the building and I stepped up with Bibles in hand to offer them. “Did you guys get a copy of God’s Word today?” They all stopped and I had their full attention. But it wasn’t anything I said that made them stop; they had been thinking about life, God, and eternity for a few weeks. One of the guys said that they were hanging out working on a car when they started talking about life and what happens when you die. Wow! So, I spent over 45 minutes with these guys and their girlfriends sharing the gospel, helping them understand what the Bible says about certain topics, and giving them resources like GotQuestions.org and Living Waters to help continue the conversation after they leave. Some of the questions they asked were:

• Can you explain the Trinity and how the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are all God?
• What is sin? How do you know something is a sin?
• We know that Jesus died for our sins, but how does that work?
• Does God forgive everyone or why some and not others?
• How much do you need to know to be saved?

It was a fun time, and I felt that without their girlfriends, they would have spent all night with me. They were so engaged in the conversation. When I asked about their church, they said they don’t attend one. None of the boys go to a local fellowship. So, what does that mean? It means that God is working in their hearts and drawing them to Himself somehow. For Scripture says:

“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So, they are without excuse.”

Romans 1:19-20 ESV

And in the Old Testament:

“…The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.”

Psalms 19:1-4 NLT

God has revealed Himself to all men and women at one point in their lives. One just has to look at His wonderful creation and know that someone had to create it. It screams an intelligent mind had to put it all together. Who that Creator is requires deeper thinking and searching out to find Him, even though He is not far from us all. Will you be the one who introduces someone to that Creator and share the gospel today?