Hunting for hope

C

oming out of COVID, Tom Williams—an East Texas businessman and member of Rock Hill Baptist Church in Brownsboro—felt compelled to do something to reach more people with the gospel. 

From that conviction came the God & the Great Outdoors Expo, a three-day event aimed at exposing attendees not only to top-of-the-line vendors and exhibitors related to hunting, fishing, and other similar hobbies, but also to the gospel. As thousands of people began to attend annually, the expo moved from Rock Hill to a larger venue in Tyler, where it gained more regional appeal and attracted a partner in Green Acres Baptist Church. 

“What the Lord impressed on me was to try to reach people through this event who would not grace the doors of a church,” Williams said. Every expo registration bag included information about both churches and a gospel tract.

A key part of the strategy included giving away 350 Sportsman’s Bibles provided by the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and funded through Reach Texas giving. The Bibles—with their camouflage and safety orange covers—were given away at each of the churches booths. 

“Giving away those Bibles was one of the most impactful things we did there,” Williams said. “Those Bibles really started conversations. As people would come by, we’d ask them, ‘Do you own a Bible? What do you know about Jesus?’”

The gospel was presented on the final night of the event in July 2024. The result? Seventy of the 500 or so people who attended that night made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, while 40 others rededicated their lives. The following morning, a chapel service was held for expo vendors and 10 more people were saved.

“I honestly believe we’re changing lives,” Williams said.

“I don’t know exactly what we’re doing with it, but God does, and He can do with the event whatever He wants to.”