At first glance, it doesn’t seem like one is making much difference at all. How is handing out hot cocoa to those passing by “missions” work? One can’t really even engage in any real “spiritual conversation”. Maybe that’s a thought that still lingers in some of my team members’ minds. Through years of leading short term mission teams, I’ve learned that there is NO small work and NO small deed for the Kingdom of God. You just never know. Maybe this story will put it in better perspective. Stories like this is worth sharing, even if it didn’t happen to one of our own team members directly. After all, there’s no “quota” for soul-winning in the Kingdom of God.
******
Earlier this week, in another hot cocoa station in the down town area, a First Nations lady was approached and offered hot cocoa. The crew on shift was from Texas and he asks the lady if she’d like some hot chocolate. She said yes. As he handed her the hot cocoa, he asks in his Southern drawl, “And y’all doin’ awlright tonight?”
“No. Not at all,” the lady honestly replies.
She continues to explain how things can’t get any worse. Arguments with her husband; the family is split apart; things are hopeless. Time is taken to listen to the lady’s situation. Jesus is eventually shared. And Jesus is eventually accepted by the lady.
Two nights later, she returns to the same hot cocoa venue. This time, with her husband and children. They had reconciled. New life abounds in this lady, in the husband, and in the children.
Not just another hot cocoa, now is it?
*****
As we head to our last formal day of ministry, pray that:
- we will enter this day with even more fervor and compassion
- for “divine appointments” in the day; and for the perseverance and faithfulness in doing the small things for the Lord and leave the big results up to Him
- as 6 of us share stories from our week at the Young Adult Ministries later in the night, that we may instill excitement and vision for city missions to our peers
- as we enter into the Saturday’s debrief day, that God can speak directly to each of us on how we can be living more missionally for Him. We will have some solitude time in the afternoon.
