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HARRISBURG -- While the blustery January wind is ushering in cold winter weather throughout the Northeast, Harrisburg is abuzz with excitement at the annual Farm Show.
On your way to see the larger-than-life butter sculpture, or sample a famous Pennsylvania Dairymen's milkshake, you may notice another pre-pandemic fixture: smiling faces standing next to a colorful display featuring a positive message and free Bible-based literature.
Chelsea Althouse traveled from Robesonia to be among the first volunteers at the Bible display this year. "It's super exciting!" she said. Prior to the pandemic, Althouse volunteered at the literature carts outside the main entrance of the Farm Show. "This year, we have a booth inside the facility for the first time," explained Kyle Teague, who helped oversee the project. Volunteers set up at booth 14 in the New Holland Arena of the one-million-square-foot Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center.
Jehovah's Witnesses in Harrisburg began offering a selection of Bible literature at these carts in 2017 and continued the tradition until 2020 when the Christian organization suspended all in-person forms of their volunteer work out of concern for the health and safety of the community.
A little over 24 months later, Witnesses all over the world recommenced their public preaching work.
"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 that we preach, but it has historically been the most effective way to deliver our message of comfort and hope."
In response to the global decision, nearly 250 Jehovah's Witnesses from 83 congregations in surrounding areas as far as Delaware and New Jersey volunteered at the booth every day of the Farm Show.
Althouse has visited the Farm Show for more than 30 years. She grew up on a farm and comes from multiple generations of farmers. "Being a child of a farmer, my memories of going to the Farm Show were always of the equipment," Althouse recalled. This year, she eagerly anticipates attending not only as a visitor, but also as a volunteer at the Bible literature display.
Though the variety of animals is a personal highlight, Althouse said the most enjoyable aspect of the Farm Show for her is engaging in conversations with others. "I think talking to those attending the Farm Show is exciting because we all are coming there to really marvel at creation and the things that light up our faces."
"The Farm Show is the biggest event of the year for Harrisburg. People come from all over the state to attend and participate," said Althouse. "A lot of people want to learn about 'farm life' and see the animals. All these are things that our Creator gave us to enjoy. We want to help people appreciate them not just for one week in January, but throughout the year."
"The Farm Show draws a lot of families," said Teague. "We have a lot of information with advice on living a happy family life, being a better husband, wife, parent - all based on the Bible. Ultimately, happy families lead to happy communities."
"We have an enormous opportunity to fill a spiritual need with a message of hope," added Steven Delgado, who also helps oversee the project.
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 Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.
"Now, more than ever, no one has a stress-free life," said Althouse. "An event like this brings agriculture and animals together, giving people a sense of peace because it makes us feel good. It also forces us to stop and think about what we are doing and why we are doing it. The pause in the pandemic made us all do that. Being available at the literature displays for people to ask questions, I feel like that is going to bring families a lot of benefit."
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.