Evangelism booth at Dixie National yields salvations

By Tony Martin
The Baptist Record

For the sixth consecutive year, Mississippi Baptist volunteers led people to Christ at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board evangelism booth on the midway of the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo at the State Fairgrounds in Jackson.

MBCB’s Evangelism Department set up a tent Feb. 3–14 at the annual event and invited volunteers from churches across the Mississippi Baptist Convention to share Christ with attendees and participants.

“Over the five previous years [beginning in 2016], we have had the privilege of sharing the gospel with 1,200–1,400 people each year. We’ve seen many students and adults give their hearts to Jesus,” said Don Lum, MBCB director of evangelism, in a written statement.

Volunteers from Mississippi Baptist churches — and even some from out of state — signed up for two-hour slots that were available each day. It wasn’t just an opening to share Christ, but also an opportunity to learn how to explain what Jesus has done in their own lives.

“I’ve been doing this for five or six years,” said Smokey McAlpin, member of Grace Church, Brandon. “When you get saved, you get convicted and want to serve the Lord. This is a way I saw I could serve. I’m retired, so I can come up here most every day.”

McAlpin described an encounter he had a few days earlier. “There was a little fellow, maybe eight or nine years old, and he made a profession of faith here. He wasn’t sure about praying out loud, so I said he could just pray under his breath. That’s what he did. I could tell by the look in his eyes he was a little bashful, but he asked Jesus to come into his heart.

“The Bible tells us that we need to store up treasures in heaven. We may have a bank account, but when we get to heaven we aren’t going to have any of that. What better treasure than to know you helped someone come to know the Lord?”

Scotty Cooper has been pastor of Cooperville Church, Morton, for about two years. “I’ve been helping out with the rodeo pretty much since it started,” he said. “I even got to go to Las Vegas to help [at a rodeo evangelism booth] there, but I didn’t like taking that plane. It was just about like having an MRI, being in that little ol’ tight thing and it making all those noises!”

Cooper praised the Dixie National ministry. “We’re waiting on the Lord to move because it’s all in His time, but the biggest thing for me is just being able to pray with someone here in public. Your light can shine. A lot of times, people will open up when you ask them if there’s anything they need.”

Cooper stressed the importance of boldness in witnessing. “This past Sunday night we were learning about the church at Laodicea [Rev. 3:13–22] and what it means to be lukewarm. We have an opportunity to stop and ask Jesus to come in with us. Scripture talks about us being blinded. We think everyone sees us because we have a tent set up here but if we’re reluctant to reach out, we start looking like that church at Laodicea.

“He’s just asking for us to let Him come in, and because of that we can serve Him here.”

The ministries of the MBCB Evangelism Department, such as the Dixie National evangelism booth, are supported by gifts to the Mississippi Cooperative Program. For more information on evangelism opportunities, contact Lum at dlum@mbcb.org.