Co-coordinator Darlene Hess (right) and Kathleen Steiner (left), volunteers in yellow shirts, sit at a station discussing the gospel.
Shannon Bohle | The Lima News
LIMA — Children Choosing Christ, a non-denominational nonprofit based at 20746 Buckland Main St. in Wapakoneta, reached out to children during the Allen County Fair on Saturday.
“We’re in 10 county fairs now,” said Tracy Campbell, chairman of the board at Children Choosing Christ. “We’re thankful to the fair board and the people who operate the Gospel Tent at the Allen County Fair to share our ministry and reach out to young people with the gospel.”
The organization, which has been coming to the Allen County Fair since 2008, is run solely by volunteers, explained Campbell. They average 15 to 20 volunteers willing to assist at each fair around Northwest Ohio. Volunteers represent a variety of local churches primarily from the county in which the fair is held, though some attend more than one county fair.
“Our mission statement is to faithfully represent Christ by giving children the opportunity to choose Christ and grow in Him,” said Kay Spallinger, Children Choosing Christ’s secretary and coordinator for the Allen County Fair.
The 15-minute activity this year at the Gospel Tent is “Puzzled? Where Do I Fit?”
Each participating child went to five different stations where they received one piece of the puzzle to solve. At each station, the gospel was explained. The puzzle is made of foam and the kids keep it.
“At the ‘choice station,’ children are given the opportunity to accept the Lord,” explained Spallinger. “It’s up to each child. We don’t pressure them.”
The Gideons also gave away Bibles to children stopping by the tent.
Around 3:30 p.m. a strong gust during a storm knocked over chairs and snapped five of the Gospel Tent’s wooden support poles. However, the tent remained standing due to its metal poles that were unaffected.
After the Allen County Fair, Children Choosing Christ will be headed to the Van Wert and Fulton county fairs.
For more information, visit their website childrenchoosingchrist.org, or follow them on Facebook.
To become a volunteer, call 419-657-6623 or email [email protected].
Reach Shannon Bohle at 567-242-0399, by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @Bohle_LimaNews.
