Western District volunteers show God’s love during ‘World’s Largest Fish Fry’
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
Volunteers serving on April 21 included, from left, Dusty Tuders, Springhill Baptist Church, Paris; Rob McBroom, Point Pleasant Baptist Church, Buchanan; Keith and Tammy Barfoot, Monterey, La.; Cheryl Conner, Point Pleasant Baptist; Chris Downing, New Harmony Baptist Church, Paris; and Jim Twilbeck, director of missions, Western District Baptist Association.
PARIS — Check the list of unreached people groups from any missions-sending organization, including the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, and you probably won’t find “carnival workers” on the list.
But as far as Jim Twilbeck and the churches of Western District Baptist Association, where he serves as director of missions, are concerned, they meet the criteria because they have little or no access to the gospel.
That’s why that for at least 30 years, volunteers from Western District have ministered to carnival workers who come to Paris each year to work during “The World’s Largest Fish Fry.”
Organizers of the event, first held in 1953 and now sponsored by the Paris-Henry County Jaycees, estimated that more than 11,000 pounds of catfish would be consumed over four days (April 21-24) and about 50,000 hush puppies.
Thousands of people from all over the world attend the event which stretches out over a week and includes a large parade, rodeo, and much more. But more importantly for Western District churches, it’s an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus to an often overlooked and often despised group of people.
Jim Twilbeck, director of missions for Western District Baptist Association, samples a plate of fish during The World’s Biggest Fish Fry.
Twilbeck observed that carnival workers are often looked down upon by people, and he acknowledged that many of them often are running away from something, whether it be the law or family.
Basically, carnival workers can be considered an unreached people group, Twilbeck affirmed.
“They can’t go to church because they typically arrive on a Sunday and begin setting up the carnival for the week. Then on Saturday, they tear down and move to another site and start over again. These are unreached people who need the Lord. We want to minister to them,” said Twilbeck, who recently celebrated his 20th anniversary as DOM.
He has helped organize the event each year except last year, when The World’s Greatest Fish Fry, like most everything else, was canceled due to COVID-19.
The association’s ministry was begun about 30 years ago by former director of missions Bill Smith, now deceased. After Twilbeck arrived, the ministry has grown to include a Christian concert on Wednesday night. The concert has expanded the association’s ability to reach more people with the gospel than just the carnival workers, he said. This year’s concert featured the Nathan Schumacher Band.
Yet the carnival workers remain the focus of the ministry. Beginning on Monday and ending on Saturday, volunteers from the churches come each day and serve both breakfast and lunch to the workers. They also look for opportunities to engage in conversations with the workers, ready to share Christ whenever they can.
“This is our missions ministry,” affirmed Chris Downing, pastor of New Harmony Baptist Church in Paris. “It’s amazing to see folks from all walks of life come here. We are able to minister to them and tell them about Jesus.”
Downing added that workers often tell them they do not get the kindness and attention shown to them in Paris in any other town they work.
Carnival worker Larry Kloeppel of Missouri, who normally works 15-20 events each year, affirmed that Paris is the only location he has been where carnival workers are ministered to and provided food aside from a few rare occurrences.
“This is fabulous,” he said.
Western District churches also provide toiletry bags, clothing and help with medical needs on occasion. One of their most memorable carnivals was one where a young lady who worked in the carnival was pregnant.
Cheryl Conner of Point Pleasant Baptist Church, Buchanan, visits with carnival workers stopping by for breakfast sponsored by Western District Baptist Association during The World’s Largest Fish Fry in Paris. Looking on is volunteer Tammy Barfoot of Monterey, La.
Twilbeck contacted Cheryl Conner of Point Pleasant Baptist Church in Buchanan and director of Tomorrow’s Hope Pregnancy Medical Center. She wanted an abortion, Conner recalled, but after taking her to the center, ministering to her and providing an ultrasound, she “changed her mind.”
Since then, Conner has regularly volunteered during the event but noted there are very few young women who work the carnivals anymore.
The Western District ministry also has drawn a couple who have traveled from Monterey, La., to help for 17 years. They attend First Baptist Church, Monterey, where Twilbeck once served as their pastor. “It’s a mission/vacation trip for us,” affirmed Keith and Tammy Barfoot. “They don’t really need us but we are glad they let us come,” Tammy laughed, adding that they have learned a lot about the unique needs of carnival workers.
Twilbeck is grateful for the ministry support of all the volunteers and churches from Western District over the years. He noted that the effort allows them to minister to and pray with people who otherwise might not hear the gospel. And, though they occasionally see decisions for Christ, there are some years where no decisions are made. Yet they always pass out Bibles and tracts, Twilbeck said. “We plant seeds.” B&R
