Hesket Newmarket Show - September 2023

Once again we were blessed with a good site and good weather – no need for any plastic covers, but able to display much literature on the tables in the open, with the Guessing Box  (GB) ‘out front’.

A young lad from the farming community was attracted by the tractor on the “Harvest” tract, he went away with it as well as “Are you a Genius? By Albert Brainstein” (AG-AB). (An excellent production and ‘designed’ for teenagers, from Living Waters, the Ministry of Ray Comfort.)

The “Illusion” (A pair of cards, coloured Gold and Silver, and with a concave / crescent shape (but with the 10 Commandments on the reverse)) was used with 3 children; but it was the father of this family who was captivated!  However, whilst receiving the ‘adult’ tract, especially for Shows and entitled “Finding the Way through The Agricultural Show”, (FWTAS) he said he didn’t believe.  

One young girl, A, from a Christian family wanted to introduce her sister (who didn’t believe) but wasn’t successful.  Pray A’s life may show forth the Saviour and her sister be irresistibly drawn.

B, H & E approached the Van. Yes they would try the GB, and we rejoiced as they responded to the ‘stories’ which followed on from their ‘guessing’. Some things had obviously stuck in their minds from School RE / RS lessons, but when taken back to “The Garden”, the Fall, and the consequential Way of Salvation provided in the Cross the ‘conversations’ became more serious. H’s face betrayed the fact that the Lord was ‘touching’ her and it was a real joy to encourage them with the gift of their own copy of the Word of God. They passed back and forth during the day, clutching their bibles. Do pray the Lord will continue His Work in their young lives. The comment that the Bible is the only true History Book written ‘in advance’ certainly catches attention. 

Over 300 prophecies of the Lord’s First Coming fulfilled to the letter – and over 3 times that number speaking of His Return. (Obviously not part of the RE Syllabus!

‘L’&’C’ were similarly drawn to the Van, but could not stay too long, they were being called by parents as they were showing their Terriers, but did promise to return. They were true to their word, and L was another teenage lassie who engaged in spiritual conversation. No chance of ‘Church on Sundays’ – family dog showing took precedence. Again we introduced the Word, “from the Beginning”. We rejoice to hear their noting (on their phones!) of the Creation Ministries International Website which aroused their keen young minds. (As a side note, we had been informed recently by a member of CMI that many churches will not accept them – the fact that God Created in 6 Days is too difficult a concept to believe and it must be explained some other way….!!) No wonder the Ministry of Outreach is not an easy one. But Truth is Truth. L later in the day came back for her Bible. It was with tears in her (our) eyes that she took it. We praise the Lord.

‘J’, who lives very near the Showgrounds listened attentively. He had, to use his words, ‘lost his way a bit in life, and was glad to receive the booklet “On the Right Track” (OTRT) The Gospel of John and Paul’s letter to the Romans, and the POL.

The GB attracted a lot of youngsters; often a queue developed.  Three brothers had good recall of School RE Bible stories and responded to a question as to whether they had their own bibles by saying they had the Torah.  On further conversation they said their parents could read Hebrew so a Hebrew/English Bible was given to the boys for the parents (kindly supplied by SDHS).  Amongst the older passers-by, some conversations took place. 

People are often hurting, or have been hurt, and the simple display of helpful literature affords opportunity to discuss all sorts of ‘issues’. BP, he had been raised ‘in Chapel’, but did not understand the Way of Salvation, and that as he had wandered through life thinking there were many ways, he was arrested by the one distinction – all religions / faiths require man to do something – Christianity stands apart in asserting the truth of what God has done for man. Do pray for BP that as he takes his copy of John, the “Nicodemus Chapter” will speak into his heart.

A similar situation came up with M – in church all her life, but did not know the Way. Initially she refused to listen, but after some ‘reasoning’ she did accept OTRT – she needs prayer.

A sad conversation followed on the heels of this with B, recently bereaved and trying to find peace. His spouse had been RC, whereas he was Protestant, and had recently been on effectively, a pilgrimage to Liverpool, where he had visited both Cathedrals, even referring to one as “Paddy’s Wigwam” as it was, or may still be, colloquially known. Naturally, that did not bring relief, but he did receive the tract “Pathway to Peace” which would offer succour in his grieving, but he also took “Four Things God Wants You To Know.”  Pleas pray he will find comfort in his grieving, but also, and more importantly, he will check out those “Four Things” in his Bible, which he said he would look at. Not perhaps the ‘whole counsel’ but the Lord is Gracious.

Part way through the afternoon, another teenager ‘dropped by’. He, A, and about 15, was with some friends, and although they seemed to be keen to move on, A was quite definite he wanted to talk. The Gospel had “free course”, and only after counselling him that a ‘decision for Christ’ could cost him loss of friendships, he affirmed he was prepared to ‘accept the cost’, if that was required. He has his own Bible, and will be reading it, but he took a copy of John’s Gospel as a ‘Marker’ for the Day of His birth from above.

E and J, more teenagers, took copies of The Gospel according to John, as well as the POL, and AG-AB.  Q was happy to “play” at the GB but firmly and repeatedly said he didn’t believe the Gospel.  K, a serious young girl took Some literature produced by Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) “Meet the King” and “How to have a special friend.”

Lily & David Garnett