"When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Matthew 9:36

When people head to the Georgia National Fair this October 2-12, they'll be expecting carnival games, cotton candy, and rides, but they just might get more for their $8 admission than they bargained for—a changed life. As fair visitors walk to the Midway, Mattie Lynn Coonce and her team of volunteers will be extending invitations to come inside her ministry tent and receive a free gift. Inside the tent, visitors will experience the warm hospitality of a compassionate, Christian outreach. Up to eight storytellers will be sharing the message of Jesus using the Wordless Book, an effective evangelism tool.

Coonce, director of My Fair Lady Wordless Book Tent Ministry in Georgia, is looking forward to sharing Jesus with many hurting and hungry people in Middle Georgia.

"We want to tell the world about the good news of Jesus Christ. We know it is the work of the Holy Spirit drawing people inside the tent. We don't know if we're watering the seed or will see it develop—we just share the good news," Coonce said.

This is her second year at the Georgia National Fair in Perry. Last year, Coonce's tent ministry drew over 6200 people inside to hear the salvation message.

Last year Coonce was assisted by family members and friends, volunteers from her church, Calvary Chapel Heartland, and from Byron Christian Academy. This year she is counting on more volunteers coming on board.

"We've had up to 30 people come in the tent at one time. We can have 8 storytellers at a time depending on how we arrange our chairs. In the morning, we have lots of school groups. We keep our tent open throughout the day and evening, so we need several shifts of workers, Frank Bascas was our Spanish storyteller last year. He could hardly take a break. We need more Spanish storytellers this year," Coonce added.

Volunteers can be anyone with a heart for the lost and a desire for evangelism. Storytellers who volunteer will be trained on-site. Coonce will pair new storytellers by experienced ones until they're comfortable enough to share the Wordless Book message on their own.

Coonce is also requesting donations towards one meal a day for the volunteers as well as passes to the fair for the workers.

Coonce, her husband and two children moved to the Middle Georgia area from the MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida, in 2001. Her mentors in the tent ministry are Bud and Jean Snow from Riverview, Florida. They gave her the 16' x 20' tent she is using at the fair.

"Bud and Jean have been in the tent ministry for 33 years. They traveled the U. S. , establishing tent ministries. Right now, I have the Georgia National Fair, and if I can find a crew, I'll put my tent up wherever the Lord leads me. I've got the tent, the space, and Bibles. I've got a few committed storytellers. The Wordless Book is the tool we use to keep us on track telling the gospel story," Coonce said.

"We are a ministry tent. In addition to sharing God's Word, we've given jackets and other items to people. We listen to them. Some people don't want to leave. They just want someone to talk to. I believe my purpose is to continue to share the Gospel story using the Wordless book at the fair. God's just opened up a lot of doors for that," Coonce added.

Visitors to the tent are given a free brochure with a small Wordless Book inside. There are also Bibles, tracts, and other Christian literature on hand.

Contact Mattie Lynn Coonce for more information at 478-218-7767 or email myfairladyga@gmail.com. To make a monetary donation, mail a check to Fellowship of Christian Farmers, P. O. Box 15, 221 West Main, Lexington, IL 61753. The memo line should read, "My Fair Lady Georgia."