Courtesy photo
Children who visited the Florida Outdoor Expo May 17 in Bushnell were coached to angle for real fish in the catfish pond.
BUSHNELL (FBW)—Florida Outdoor Expo, sponsored by Sumter County Baptist Association May 17, attracted more people than reside in the central Florida host city of Bushnell.
More than 3,000 crowded the Sumter County Fairgrounds to view exhibits, register for door prizes and hear the Gospel message, according to organizers.
Pastors in the rural association began planning the event about a year ago after the group heard a presentation by a representative from CrossHeir Outfitters.
Even though some of the pastors knew little about hunting or fishing, they decided to plan the Expo for locals who loved the outdoor life.
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Pastor Philip Howe told Florida Baptist Witness, the pastors adopted the attitude of the Apostle Paul: “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (I Cor. 9:22).
“I was not raised in a rural area, but I pastor in a rural area,” Howe said, indicating he is willing to do whatever it takes to reach people, including learning about different cultural distinctions.
First Baptist Church Bushnell layman Larry Estelle volunteered to head up the project. He devoted himself to planning and coordinating the massive event. It became almost a “full-time job,” Howe said.
“He woke up, lived and went to bed thinking about the Expo for a whole year,” Howe said of the Bushnell man.
CrossHeir Outfitters described the Expo as “their biggest event like this ever,” Howe said. The Expo was to start at 10 a.m., but organizers had to open the gates at 9:30 because of the long line waiting to get in. While adults visited over 50 exhibits and vendors, children angled for real fish in a catfish pond.
An estimated crowd of 3,000 ate free barbecue for lunch, then heard a Gospel concert by the Akins Family from north Ga.
CrossHeir speaker Al Stone, a member of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., used anecdotes of country living and “redneck” jokes to illustrate the Gospel message. At the invitation, 107 came forward to make professions of faith.
Howe said both organizers and those attending “loved it,” and the Sumter County pastors are considering making the Expo an annual event.