They came from places as far away as Russia. More than 220,000 people walked throughout the 100 acres that spanned the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition in Moultrie - the largest of its kind in North America.

They carried shiny plastic bags emblazoned with every kind of logo - red ones advertising Dodge trucks to neon green Zyrtec antihistamine ads - and filled them with free samples of sunflower seeds and smokeless tobacco.

Standing under tents, sitting at tables and leaning on John Deere green tractors, they discussed stinkbug thresholds and new methods of digging peanut plots. They watched chainsaw "artists" carve animals out of giant logs.

And in one corner, thousands of people had a chance to hear about Jesus.

For the fifth year, Baptist volunteers from the southwest Georgia region manned a giant white tent at the Expo. Offering free water and extravagant face painting, along with ongoing music shows, the Georgia Baptist tent attracted more than 3,000 people during the three-day event.

"We're here to glorify God by witnessing for Jesus at the largest agriculture expo in the world," said Terrell Ruis, ministry resource consultant for the southwest region and organizer of the expo event.

"Often churches aren't outside the walls much. We don't make our presence known. We're doing that here."

Volunteers from the area pass out cups of cold water and music groups sing throughout the day to attract people into the tent. Other volunteers like Charlie Belk, pastor of Crosland Church in Colquitt County, witnessed outside the tent.

"I invite people into the tent and pass out tracts. I also invite them to Jesus," he said.

But the tent wasn't the only place where Georgia Baptists were touching lives.

Just up the road at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Norman Park, about 300 vendors and expo employees stayed during the week.

"We opened up as a service to exhibitors and volunteers. The expo sends a lot of people our way," said conference center manager Bill Townes. "It helps them and we get to share the gospel with everyone who stays here."

Townes and his staff produced a newsletter for expo workers that stayed at the conference center. It included directions to the expo, menus for the week and even a daily weather report. It also included the plan of salvation.

"That's what it's about. Sharing Jesus with the world we have right here," Ruis said.

 

Next fall Georgia Baptists will once again have a presence at the Sunbelt Ag Expo. Volunteers and music groups are needed to help. For more information or to volunteer, call Terrell Ruis at (229) 420.1640 or 1 (877) 422.2383.

The cost of the site at the expo was partially funded through the Cooperative Program. You and your church may send Cooperative Program gifts to:

Dr. J. Robert White
Executive Director
Georgia Baptist Convention
2930 Flowers Road, South
Atlanta, GA 30341-5562