“Two of the ways we are doing this is with a career area and a health area,” said Rich Branham, co-founder of the Fair along with his wife, Lana. “The event is always about community. In the career area, there will be a number of organizations to help people with resumes, new interview suggestions, dressing for success, etc. In the health area, a few organizations, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, will be assisting people with all sorts of health checks, plus helping families get connected with organizations that can help them in the long run.”

In addition, the Fair will also celebrate and help military veterans and their families at a large dedicated area.

In 2011, the Fair moved from St. Paul to the larger Minneapolis Convention Center and went from a two-day event to just one day, citing the feedback from vendors and others.

“Many of the ministries struggled to find volunteers to staff their booths for two separate days,” Branham said. “We also heard from vendors and attendees alike that they would like to have all the energy poured into one day. The feedback has been great: a one-day, free event for the whole family.”

Each year, hundreds of vendors participate in the Fair, giving those in attendance an idea of the breadth and depth of Christian ministries in Minnesota and the surrounding area. Those vendors and attendees also create an opportunity for networking among a wide variety of people and ministries.

“The Christian Community Fair is about networking,” Branham said. “It is about creating unity in the community. We can do so much more together. Our exhibitors often say they love meeting with the other exhibitors even before the event opens because they know we are all there with one thing in mind: community. This is a very unique ‘tradeshow’ from that perspective.”

Kids will also have an opportunity to enjoy themselves with a petting zoo and inflatables. In addition, music will fill the convention space with the likes of the Minnesota Teen Challenge Choir.

Now in its seventh year, Rich and Lana Branham are still enthused about organizing the annual free event with the support they have received from the community.

“We continue to be humbled, amazed and thankful for the community support we receive from pastors, churches and families from around Minnesota,” Rich said.


ACTIONPOINT: For more information about this year’s Christian Community Fair, which will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Minneapolis Convention Center, visit www.christianfair.com.