Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

Georgia fairgoers discover ‘most valuable thing’ in golden box

“Almost everyone wants to know what the most valuable thing at the fair could possibly be. They all expressed a desire to look into the box," said Wayne Jenkins, Western Baptist associational missionary.
  • October 15, 2023
  • Georgia's The Christian Index
  • Church Life, Georgia, Latest News
Ladies from East Newnan Baptist Church offer a young woman the opportunity to look into “the box” and see the most valuable thing at the fair.
(Photo courtesy of the Christian Index)

Georgia fairgoers discover ‘most valuable thing’ in golden box

Each year the Kiwanis Coweta County Fair attracts thousands to Newnan, Georgia. Families go to enjoy the midway with its carnival rides, inflatables, food and games; exhibit halls showing local artwork, handicrafts, baked goods, horticulture and livestock; and other attractions.

Since the fair attracts so many — 45,000 in 2022 — for nearly 15 years the Western Baptist Association has organized 10 churches to host their tent for one day. Each church is equipped to share the good news of Christ and provide a cheerful and uplifting presence amid a loud and boisterous carnival atmosphere.

RELATED: Check out more stories of lives changed in Georgia here.

“So often people see the church as an institution that intrudes into their lives with a message of gloom and doom and persistent appeals for money,” noted Wayne Jenkins, Western Baptist associational missionary. “At our tent we are trying to make a positive, nonthreatening impression by demonstrating the love of Jesus.

“We have a very large glass jar crammed full of teddy bears. When the children see the bears, they bring their parents to our tent and we ask the kids to guess how many bears are in the glass jar. No matter how many bears they guess, we tell them we appreciate their participation, share with them a brief synopsis of the depth of God’s love, and give them a free teddy bear.”

Jenkins said the small bear “can easily fit into their dad’s pocket, which almost ensures that the gift will be taken home as a reminder of the message we share with each visitor. This year we gave away 1,000 teddy bears.”

‘Main attraction’

But the main feature of the tent is a golden box with an inscription: “The most valuable thing at the fair is in this box.” 

“Almost everyone wants to know what the most valuable thing at the fair could possibly be,” Jenkins said. “They all expressed a desire to look into the box.”

When it is opened a golden silk cloth can be seen first. But there is a mirror at the bottom of the box and the curious observer sees an image of himself/herself.

“Since the mirror reflects the image of the person who peers into the box, we proceed to ask that person, ‘Do you know why you are the most valuable thing here at the fair and the most valuable person in this whole world?’” said Steve Bullard, senior pastor of Royal Baptist Church Newnan. “In economics, value is measured by the price one is willing to pay for goods or services. God considers the price of one soul to be of inestimable worth and gave up His only begotten Son to die an excruciating death for you and each one of us to have eternal life.”

On more than one occasion the individual who looked in the box heard the gospel message and made a profession of faith in Christ.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by J. Gerald Harris and originally published by the Christian Index.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Pew report shows Catholicism’s roots, challenges in American life
    Pew report shows Catholicism’s roots, challenges in American life
    June 17, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Supreme Court to hear case involving pregnancy center, free speech
    Supreme Court to hear case involving pregnancy center, free speech
    June 17, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • GCR Task Force files unsealed, available for review
    GCR Task Force files unsealed, available for review
    June 16, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Pew report shows Catholicism’s roots, challenges in American life

While reporting relatively low levels of attendance at Mass, almost half of U.S. adults (47%) say they have a personal or family relationship to Catholicism, a new Pew Research Center survey finds. 

Supreme Court to hear case involving pregnancy center, free speech

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear First Choice Women’s Resource Centers v. Platkin. The case spotlights a New Jersey faith-based pregnancy center fighting a state subpoena it says infringes on its First Amendment rights.

GCR Task Force files unsealed, available for review

The audio files from the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force’s 10 months of work in 2009 and 2010 were sealed for 15 years, the agreed-upon time by the group. The collection is housed in the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives and consists of 57 compact discs and very few paper documents.

Christian falsely charged with blasphemy in Pakistan is acquitted

A judge in Pakistan on June 12 acquitted a Christian of blasphemy and terrorism charges after the prosecution failed to prove its case against him,

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel