Jehovah’s Witnesses Back at the Mississippi State Fair After Pandemic

Temperatures are cooling off in Jackson and surrounding cities as the 163rd annual Mississippi State Fair continues over the next several days.

As you marvel at the new Great American Wild West show, munch on your favorite fair snacks or meander along the midway, you may notice another pre-pandemic feature along the sidewalks of North, Jefferson and Amite streets: smiling faces standing with colorful carts that feature a positive message and free Bible-based literature.

Kathy Burnett, a Jackson resident who has been engaging in the “cart witnessing” activity at the fairgrounds since its inception, said: “What I like most about coming out to the fair is the atmosphere. It’s a time when people are relaxed. They will even say hello regardless of what’s going on in their lives or around them. We get to see people smile. Even the kids, sometimes they speak to us before we can even say something to them. We haven’t been able to have that connection,” she said, referring to conditions during the early part of the pandemic.

Jehovah’s Witnesses in Jackson began offering a selection of Bible literature at these carts at the MS State Fair in 2012 and continued to do so until 2020, when the Christian organization suspended all in-person forms of their ministry in interest of public health and safety of the community.

“We believe that the early decision to shut down all in-person activities for more than two years has saved many lives,” said Robert Hendriks, U.S. spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “We’re now ready and eager to reconnect with our neighbors once again – person-to-person, face-to-face. It’s not the only way we preach, but it has historically been the most effective way to deliver our message of comfort and hope.”

Excited to recommence their public preaching work and to reconnect with their neighbors, about 100 Jehovah’s Witnesses from some eight congregations spanning as far as Newton, MS, are volunteering at the 11-day, fun-filled event. You will find them alternating at nine cart locations near Gates 1, 2 and 16 each day anytime from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“I learned that [fairgoers] come from all over the state of Mississippi,” said Burnett, who has attended the fair for more than 37 years. I’ve heard of some coming from Kosciusko, Carthage, Florence, Hattiesburg and the Coast.”

Also volunteering at the cart was Burnett’s friend Glenda West of Jackson. “I do this because I love people,” West said.

Standing before her display with the placard posing the question “Will Suffering End?” West said: “Because people have been suffering from many things, like the COVID sickness and death, people need to know that suffering will end and what our loving Heavenly Father has in store.”

Mobile displays of Bible-based literature have been part of Jehovah’s Witnesses' public ministry in the U.S. since 2011. While cart witnessing began in large metropolitan areas around the world, the practice quickly spread to the tens of thousands of smaller communities, becoming a fixture in rail and bus stations, airports, harbors and main streets – and in Jackson, the Mississippi State Fair.

“I feel that a lot of people don’t have a positive outlook, so if I can share that with them and give them something to look forward to as far as directing their attention to the Bible, then that would be worth being out here and make my day!” Burnett said.

To learn more about Jehovah’s Witnesses, their history, beliefs and activities, visit their official website jw.org, featuring content in more than 1,000 languages.