A Meaningful Encounter at the Kent County Youth Fair Near Grand Rapids, Michigan

FCFI Fair Booth Table

Sometimes, what seems like a simple conversation can turn into an encouraging story of how God is using people and simple tools to share His message.

Rick Cram had an opportunity to talk with two girls and their mother about the Wordless Walking Sticks at the Kent County Youth Fair. Rick attends the same Sunday school class at Calvary Church that Dan and Teresa Janzen attended before they became missionaries in South Sudan.

As Rick was coming into the fairgrounds to help with the event, he began talking with the girls and their mother about the walking sticks and what they represent. During their conversation, the mother shared something that immediately caught Rick’s attention. Her son had a friend who had received one of the walking sticks and had made a decision for Christ.

What made the story especially encouraging was what happened afterward. Her son’s friend had apparently been excited about the walking stick and began telling his own friends about it. The message continued to spread as he shared about his new found relationship with Christ using what he had received and the mnemonic for the colors and the gospel message they represent.

It was a beautiful example of how one simple encounter can lead to another. A gospel message shared and a walking stick placed in someone’s hands can become an opportunity for a conversation about faith, and that conversation can then be shared with family and friends.

For Rick, it was also a meaningful connection to see how the work being done through FCFI can reach people in unexpected ways. What begins as a brief conversation at a fair can continue long after the event is over.

Stories like this remind us that we may never know the full impact of a small act of faithfulness. We simply share what God has placed in our hands and trust Him to use it. The Wordless Walking Stick is not just a practical item—it can serve as a simple tool for opening doors, starting conversations, and pointing people toward the Gospel.

We are thankful for opportunities like this and for everyone who faithfully serves at fairs and other events. Please continue to pray that God will open more doors for conversations about Christ and that the message will continue to spread from one person to another.