A missions fair can be quite simple, or it can be as elaborate as you choose to make it. It can feature the work of two or three missionaries, or it can portray work on many fields. It may be held one night or for a week. Whatever the size or scope, it will take plenty of preparation to make your fair a success.

At least three months before the fair, let each auxiliary unit select a mission field to present. (You may let those units be WMA, YLA, GMA, and Sunbeams within the church) Choose a theme for your fair using a scripture or quotation about missions. Have the groups begin planning exhibits to correlate with the theme. Decide on definite dates and times for your fair. Plan your publicity program.

Write to missionaries for current information and pictures to help make the representations of their work as authentic as possible. Contact some missionaries to arrange speakers. Filmstrips would be very helpful; check on audiovisual sets, for example, that correlate with VBS missions studies from Baptist Publishing House.

Interstate Missions: Each field has its own special needs. Contact the individual missionary for information. Use posters, pictures, and maps. Pictures from The Gleaner can help. Travel agencies and tourist bureaus can supply brochures and other materials on each state.

Foreign Missions: A hut-type booth could house a map of a country, pictures of missionary families, and souvenirs of the work. Encyclopedias can give much information about the country. Make a flag representing each country. Feature native foods to be tasted. A host or hostess in native dress could give out literature about the field.

Local Missions: Another part of the fair could portray the local evangelistic program of your church--the visitation ministry, work in hospitals, jails, nursing homes, youth programs, broadcasts, telecasts, bus ministry, etc. These displays would show the necessity of a strong home missions effort.

To keep interest high, offer an award for the booth telling the most authentic story of the field represented. Try to have as judges, missionaries who are on furlough or people who have visited mission fields.

Invite the community as well as your own congregation to attend your missions fair. Also invite sister churches. Use posters, newspapers, radio, and personal contacts to tell about your fair. This could also be used for a district GMA meeting. Ideas are limitless. Brainstorm for more ideas!

As the people move among the exhibits, have recorded hymns playing. Several missionaries have recorded tapes or albums, use them.

Refreshments may be served in a central location, or you could have native foods in each exhibit. Hot tea, coffee, milk, or punch could represent various parts of the world.

Be sure to allow enough time for people to examine the displays, greet the missionaries. And gain information and inspiration from them.

As a fitting close to each evening of the fair, at a certain time, turn out all the lights. As the people stand in total darkness, let the speaker tell them that while we are living in spiritual light here in America, many people are existing in complete darkness. As he is speaking, turn a light on a large world map. This will emphasize the closing thought that the commission of the church is to take the light of Christ into dark areas of sin and ignorance. All people should have the opportunity to live in His light. In the dimly lighted room pronounce the benediction and let the people leave quietly with the world's need uppermost in their minds.