Engaging Youth With the Gospel at the Iowa State Fair

Since the start of the Iowa State Fair, the IowaGO! booth has been a whirlwind of activity, with people flocking in to see what we’re really all about, scrutinize the model of Noah’s ark and trains, and sift through our free materials addressing a range of topics that challenge conventional views on the Bible, faith, and social issues. Many days, volunteers and I are utterly exhausted, yet we rise to the occasion, ready to confront another day of spirited engagement and debate.

For me, the first few days of the fair were tough, trying to get into a meaningful conversation about faith while others were having one dialogue after another. I was genuinely happy for them. We have a very solid team this year and everyone that I have worked with knows the gospel, and is able to clearly convey it to those who need it. We are tight-knit, solid group. You get more done when you do it together. When planting a very large crop, like when we are passing out tracts, it would be easier to have one person plow, another person plant the seed, and another water behind. It would be too much to carry a watering pot along with a bag of seeds; doing both would be quite cumbersome and not very efficient. We need each other in the booth, and one task is no less important than the other.

Take tattooing kids with dinosaurs for instance. One might think its pointless, but that may be the first time anyone has ever engaged them with the gospel. Moreover, parents should be reading what their kids are given. I personally like tattooing. One of the reasons is that teens and young adults come up to get one and ask questions. I can multi-task pretty well when tattooing one or two children and speak to teens at the same time. The young ladies get a “Are You a Good Person?” tract and a “What is it?” tract from me. One shares the gospel, and the other gives a solid pro-life message from Mark Spence of Living Waters if they watch the whole video. Wouldn’t you agree it’s better to put chastity on the hearts of young women than to cry out to them in a Planned Parenthood parking lot after the damage is done?

But even more so, “…by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.” (Proverbs 16:6, ESV) That’s what this generation is lacking—the fear of the Lord. This profound reverence is not just about being afraid but understanding the immense power and holiness of God, which compels us to live a life of righteousness. In a world filled with distractions and moral ambiguity, acknowledging the Lord’s authority can guide us away from temptations and lead us toward a path of integrity and virtue. When we cultivate a genuine fear of God, it shapes our decisions and influences our relationships, inspiring us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly (Micah 6:8). Without this foundational element in our lives, we risk becoming complacent, drifting further from the values that nurture our spiritual growth and societal well-being.

The youth are in search of something meaningful in their lives—a reality that cannot be overlooked. They possess an acute awareness that an integral aspect is absent, yet they struggle to identify what it is. In educational settings, they interact with peers who express diverse gender identities, facing confusion about their own identities. Meanwhile, many grapple with the unsettling notion that adults are validating these complexities. Many of these kids express in our conversation, in not so many words—what is truth? Praise God they are getting it at the booth in God’s Word.