2011 was the 194th Three County Fair making it one of the
oldest continuously run fairs in America. I've been at three
of the last four fairs and as a fair it is getting bigger and
better every year. What I do is wander around handing out $1,000,000
bill gospel tracts and talking with whoever is interested in
talking. Unlike other places essentially everyone I meet needs
the gospel. I am hoping we can have a booth at this fair within
the next couple of years.
I was there by myself this year, so there was no one available
to take photos. (Return to 2011 photo
index.)
This
is a difficult event - the darkness is strong.
It is normal to not want to go out to do evangelism. But usually
once I get started I'm filled with energy, joy and excitement.
No so in Massachusetts and the Three County Fair. As is normal
it is hard to get started. But it is also hard to keep going and
that's not normal. A prayer partner was very much needed.
It's not the people. They are as friendly, welcoming and
open as anywhere else. Massachusetts people are nice people. And
this fair is one of the easiest for handing out tracts. I hand
out about as many tracts per hour as I do in other places. As
at other places people smile and laugh when I offer them a million
dollar bill. As they do in other places people even chase after
me to get one. But there is a spiritual darkness that is oppressive.
It makes me long for home and the company of other Christians.
The people who are over 40 are typically Catholic and they say
they are "saved" because they do what the Catholic church
says to do. They are trusting in the ritual and ceremony of the
Catholic Church. But, what is even sadder are the young people
- those under 30. They seem lonely and empty and lost - searching,
not knowing what they are searching for and not finding it.
Northampton
- Some historical background
Northampton is the place where the first major revival in
America started.
It was called the Great Awakening.
The revival started with the preaching of Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758)
who at the time was a Congregational minister in Northampton.
Through the preaching of Jonathan Edwards, and others, people
became aware of the emptiness of the ritual and ceremony of the
church and they recognized their need for Jesus Christ to save
them from the consequences of their having broken God's laws.
It seems that what is needed in New England is another Jonathan
Edwards. The message is the same: don't trust in what you do (obeying
the Catholic Church), trust in Jesus Christ alone. There is no
salvation except through trusting 100% in Jesus Christ alone.
I am hoping next year the Lord will provide what is needed
so we can have a booth at the Three County Fair. The advantage
of a booth is that it provides a location people can return to.
Instead of having someone (like me) just wander around for a couple
of hours and then be gone. The booth makes us easy to find; easy
to come back to with questions; easy to bring friends to; and
it provides a place where we can have a wide variety of resources
available. It gives us a base from which we can preach salvation
through Christ alone.
