Volunteers from several Texico Conference churches and Pathfinder clubs took shifts sharing their faith at New Mexico State Fair booth Sept. 10–20.
A life-size banner featuring Jesus stood prominently in front of the booth, inviting passersby to “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
“Everyone liked the Jesus banner,” says Reuben Estrada, longtime booth organizer, designer, and coordinator from Albuquerque Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church. “Quite a few people said it was welcoming.”
Shawn and Megan Hoffman, who bring the Virtual Reality Bible Museum to churches worldwide, returned again this year to help with the outreach. More than 170 people experienced the museum, donning virtual reality headsets to explore environments that included dinosaurs, the biblical sanctuary, the Garden of Eden, and Noah’s ark.
Visitors also learned about AWR Diné Radio, which serves the Navajo Nation, and received Navajo-language literature, including Steps to Christ and Moccasin Trail to Heaven.
Volunteers distributed more than 1,500 books, including The Ministry of Healing, The Desire of Ages, Steps to Christ, and The Great Controversy. They also shared GLOW and Amazing Facts tracts, children’s literature, DVDs, and other evangelistic materials.
More than 120 people signed up for the family Bible giveaway, and 43 signed up for Bible studies. Numerous others expressed interest in learning about the Christian lifestyle and how to claim God’s promises.
Bookmarks and stickers helped draw visitors to the booth, with volunteers distributing more than 2,000.
“Learning from last year, we not only gave out stickers, but bookmarks to get the attention of those passing by,” Estrada says. “Once they received a sticker or bookmark, they seemed to be much more interested and inclined to stop at our booth.”
Many bookmarks featured the same image and invitation from Matthew 11:28 as the Jesus banner. Others featured different topics, such as marriage, the Ten Commandments, and the Sabbath.
Texico-area churches have shared their faith at the New Mexico State Fair for more than 31 years. Jep Choate, a volunteer and elder at the Albuquerque Heights church, believes the booth continues the tradition of praying for others and sharing literature that Ellen G. White described in her account of Adventists’ outreach at the World’s Fair.
We thank Estrada for once again coordinating and designing the booth, and praise God for everyone who supported this outreach through prayer and financial contributions.
To learn more about bringing the Virtual Reality Bible Museum to your area, visit vrbm.org. To support the annual fair outreach, contact the Albuquerque Heights church.