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Reaching the Lost with
Horseshoes
The Heart of Kansas Southern Baptist Association (HOKSBA) sponsored its first
“horseshoe ministry” event at the Kansas State Fair this year. The horseshoe
ministry was first used by the association at the annual River Festival in
Wichita and was such a success that the idea was born to try the event at the
state fair. Loren Phippen, Director of Evangelism for the association and Carl
Brown, member of Country Acres Baptist Church, worked diligently to pull this
even together in just a few weeks time. The association had never attempted an
event of this size but once the idea was out the volunteers, the money and the
interest just blossomed. The association ordered 5.000 horse shoes in
anticipation of what God would do at the fair.
The horseshoe ministry works in a very simple fashion. As people approach the
booth a greeter tells them they will be given a free horseshoe with their name
stamped on it if they will allow us to tell them what John 3:16 means to us.
While their name is being stamped on the shoe the gospel is shared with them and
they are given the opportunity to pray and accept Christ as their personal
savior. Whether they pray to receive Christ or not they are given a gospel track
with their horseshoe and offered a New Testament.
The Ridin’ For Christ Horseshoe Ministry in North Carolina generously stamped
all 5,000 horseshoes with John 3:16 and shipped them in time for use at the
fair. Around fifteen of our local churches signed up to man the booth during
various days and times. We also had a great group of volunteers from First
Baptist Church in Pratt, Kansas, that is in a different association. In total we
had over 120 volunteers. There is no way anyone was prepared for the response
they would see and the work that it would take to pass that many people through
the booth but they all worked like true servants of God and gave it their all.
It was proof positive of what we can accomplish if God’s people are willing to
come together to reach our communities for Christ.
Approximately 4.700 horseshoes were given out at the fair and the response from
fairgoers was overwhelming. Over 100 people made public confessions of salvation
and were willing to give their personal information so our local churches could
do follow up and discipleship. There is no way to know what God is doing in the
hearts of all the others who heard the gospel during the ten day event. It was
truly amazing to see how many people were sincerely open to hear the gospel
message. The world wants us to believe that no one is interested and will not
listen to believers who are willing to share their faith. Those who saw lives
touched and such a large number of people hear the gospel message know better
and look forward with anticipation to see how God will use them in other
witnessing venues and again next year at the fair!
September, 2010
By Gail Phippen
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