I feel the need to admit I wasn’t too excited when the idea of a ministry fair was brought up.  A pastor probably shouldn’t admit that, but that is how I was feeling at the time.  I was in a meeting with the children’s leadership when the idea was brought up.  It seemed like a lot of work and I really couldn’t see what kind of impact it would have.  The leaders were persistent and so I said, sure maybe we can plan something for the fall.  Almost in unison they said, no sooner.  OK when?  Next month.  We didn’t pull it together in one month, it was more like six weeks.  With a lot of help from Sandy and Paul Brotzman the fair came together and went off really well.  In hind sight I am really glad that we did and some of the benefits were not what I thought.  Often when I have a conversation with leaders I can sense they are bracing themselves.  I can almost picture the wheels in their brains wondering what crazy thing is Jason going to ask them for this time.   Sometimes I am even disappointed because my ideas don’t translate as well to others.  The opposite was true with the ministry fair.  Leaders were excited at the opportunity to share what God was doing in and through them.  As we promoted the fair some even came to me with new ideas.  Jennifer McMahon, one of the young moms here, came to me with the idea of starting a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers Group).  I found myself excited and encouraged by others enthusiasm.  It didn’t end there.  The day of the fair a number of leaders expressed the success of the fair because people were excited about their ministry and signed up to serve or participate.  The community table I was at was next to Work Force, I noticed about 13 new people signed up to help with their ministry.  I love being in community where people are excited about serving their savior.