The Hillsdale County Fair will host a service on the first day of festivities. Collegian | Kaylee McGhee

The Hillsdale Area Ministerial Association will host its annual non-denominational service on Sunday, kicking off the Hillsdale County Fair. 

HAMA will hold the event at the fairgrounds in the Nichols Bandshell this year on the fair’s opening day, Sept. 24, from 2 to 3:15 p.m. Brandon Dengler, pastor at Banker’s Baptist Church, will lead the service.

The service is intended to bring the community together through song, prayer, and scripture. 

“Our mission is to glorify the triune God, and, in unity, advance the kingdom of Jesus Christ in the Hillsdale community,” Dengler said. 

Dengler said HAMA values unity and encourages all Christians to come to the service. Dengler also said that during the service people of different denominations link arms to praise Jesus Christ. 

“It’s a unique opportunity to see cross-denominational churches coming together to serve God and the community,” Dengler said. 

HAMA rotates pastors for the fair service every year. Dengler, who has been a part of HAMA for two years, volunteered to be the pastor this year, a duty that includes choosing the music and preaching a sermon. 

Dengler, who previously lived northeast of Hillsdale, said, “unity is not really seen there as it is in Hillsdale.”

Dengler said that organizations at the fair have told him that the service is special. 

“If you bring a bulletin from that Sunday service or Mass to the fair between 12 to 2 p.m, you can get into the fair for free,” HAMA President and pastor at Somerset Congregational Church Lucas Miller ’01 said.

Miller said this tradition helps bring in more people to the service. People who come to the fair solely for the service do not have to pay money to attend.

Lori Hull, a board member of the Hillsdale County Fair said, “the fair service has been going on forever.” 

Dengler said HAMA is eager to make its mission known to the community and enlarge its service crowds in many ways. 

“It’s an appropriate kickoff to the week of fair activities,” Miller said. “I am glad they continue this tradition.”

The fair will run from Sunday, Sept. 24 through Saturday, Sept. 30.