Michigan—As fair visitors walked along and looked at outdoor exhibits behind the Grandstand at the Berrien County Youth Fair the week of Aug. 14–19, bubbles floated in the air, caught their eye, and caused many to follow them to the source—The Health Tent (Tent) entrance. The smiling face and warm words of welcome from a volunteer greeted them as they were invited to come into the tent.
Beginning in 1945, the Tent is a cooperative community service project supported by 20 churches in District 9. This year some 140 volunteers, ranging in age from 12 to 80-years-plus, gave of their time to assist the 7,000 Tent visitors as well as help set up and take down the Tent exhibit. Students, as well as professors from the Nutrition and Nursing departments of Andrews University, were also among the volunteers.
This year’s theme was "5-A-Day—Promote Fruit and Vegetable Consumption." To emphasize this theme for the children, 5-A-Day bingo, ring toss, crafts, and puppet shows were included. Adults and teens completed a "Discover Your Health Age" lifestyle assessment based on seven health habits. The assessment also included height/weight/BMI (Body Mass Index) and blood pressure checks. Memorial Hospital of South Bend, Ind., conducted a Stroke Risk Assessment, while the Village Church Health Evangelism Team provided a successful CHIP (Coronary Health Improvement Project) display. Visitors were invited to visit the Prayer Garden where a prayer specialist on duty helped them tack their concerns to a cross and pray. Friday evening and Sabbath morning live Christian guitar music was provided.
What were visitors' reactions to the Tent? One 13-year-old girl decided to become a Christian in the Prayer Garden and asked for Bible studies. A 35-year-old diabetic cried for joy with what she had learned in a half hour, then visited the Prayer Garden to praise the Lord for her new knowledge for better health. The parents of a newborn came to get information at the SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) prevention display to protect their infant. Every year someone returns to the Tent to share how the information they received earlier helped them stop smoking or lose weight. They've also mentioned that volunteer counselors saved their marriage, and some said they have begun attending church.
Along with daily drawings and door prizes, 900-plus Vibrant Life tracts were given out and at least 2,500 pieces of literature, including 200 Final Events DVDs. Children were given Little Friend. Gift bags were provided for the 276 non-Adventist guests who completed the lifestyle assessment. The bags included the paperback Take Charge of Your Health, a 5-A-Day bookmark, coupons for Apple Valley Market and the Adventist Christian Book Center, and What's a Seventh-day Adventist brochures. On Sabbath, A Day to Remember tract was handed out. Throughout the fair week 1,900 cups of drinking water were given out.
"The Lord has blessed us mightily, not only with lots of volunteer help and thousands of visitors, but also with the blue ribbon for Outstanding Commercial Exhibit—Outdoor Division!" says Anne Oyerly, Tent coordinator. Automatically entered, the exhibit had to show use of the color and theme selected by the Berrien County Youth Fair Board. Since the theme was "Dreams and Smiles—2006," the slogan "Healthy Dreams and Happy Smiles" was used at the Tent and smiley faces were placed all over the tent. A blue ribbon is a definite reason to smile, but so is knowing that 7,000 visitors were touched in some way or another at the Tent this year.
Now begins the follow-up phase where many visitors were invited to attend cooking schools, stop-smoking programs, the CHIP program, the Doug Batchelor series, and Bible studies. Your prayers are vital to this follow-up ministry.
Judi Doty, Lake Union Herald back pages editor
