Since 1972, the Lutheran Evangelism Association has sponsored a "Prayer and Witness Outreach Booth" at the Arizona State Fair and Maricopa County Fair. Last year, thousands of people were again reached with a double postcard sharing Law and Gospel, and offering a free course in the Christian Faith, a New Testament, and/or a personal call by a Christian to talk about the faith.

A Christian coloring book, a favorite with children was often taken by the child when a parent rejected the postcard (over 5,000 have been handed out!). The coloring book also had the same adult offer on the back cover. The captions are now in Spanish, as well as in English.

The focus of the booth is the emblem "One Love Fits All" (John 3:16) which ties in with the emblem and message of the postcards. A booklet form of the postcard is available to individuals who commit themselves to a partnership with the Association, to support, share the booklets, and follow-up when requests from seekers come in. Nothing is sold.

2004 Staffing was provided from 15 local LCMS congregations, about 150+, who took 3 hour shifts (fair hours are 10-12 hours daily) for the 18 days of the fair (2005 - 20 days).

An average year's results:

• 5,000-6,000 invitational postcards given
• 250 English and Spanish New Testaments given
• 215 prayer requests given us
• 82 basic Christian studies sent out
   
• 37 cards indicated no church home and/or a request for a personal visit
• 14 congregations were given follow-up information on un-churched people in their zip code area.
• Postcards continue to come in by mail the rest of the year.

If you can smile, and if you are not too shy to hand out Christian literature to strangers, WE NEED YOUR HELP for the 33rd year of "Prayer Family's Outreach at the Fair".

This is the only mass Lutheran outreach of it's kind in Arizona! Click here to receive additional information on how you can help.