Free Hot Chocolate - Christianity Today

Michael and C.J. respond positively while standing in the baptistery. “Are you trusting Jesus Christ alone for eternal life?” Both young men say yes. We first met them at the Laundromat one block from the church.

Ours is the tiniest church in town, 75 seats in the auditorium and the small house next door is our office and education space. We faithfully support missions around the world, but we wondered how our church could reach those in our community who need Christ. That’s when we started giving away free hot chocolate.

Every Friday night starting at 5:30, we walk through our neighborhood, talking with the people we meet and offering cups of cocoa. (We call it FEET, Friday Evening Evangelism Training.)

A freshman ministerial student leads out, taking a few young people with him. Those we meet on the streets, we ask to take an opinion survey.

In your opinion, as we seek to build ministry in this neighborhood, should we focus on children, youth, adults, or seniors?
In your opinion, why do some in our community not attend church?
In your opinion, what does it take for one to enter heaven?
May I share with you how I came to know for certain if I were to die I would go to heaven?

Using a brochure, we share a five-point gospel presentation based on the acrostic TRUTH. We also invite them to church and ask if we may send a postcard after our talk. That starts several follow-up contacts. Follow-up is the key.

C.J. and Michael came to church wearing rings in their ears, noses, eyebrows, lips, and tongues. They stayed after the service to talk with Ricky, who first offered them free hot chocolate, and with Wayne, a drywall contractor. While church members prayed in another room, C.J. and Michael asked questions and later professed their faith in Christ. Soon they were baptized.

Friday night is not usually the time to plan recurring ministry, but it works in our community. Our church has grown from 30 to 40, including young men like C.J. and Michael, who have joined in sharing cocoa and the gospel.

—Charles R. Hughes Lynchburg, Virginia

» Sure Beats Donuts

We’ve found a way to get people to Sunday school: invite them over for breakfast on Sundays. My husband, the pastor, loves to cook breakfast. (His specialty is pancakes, eggs, and sausage, but a breakfast casserole could easily be prepared the night before if time is an issue.)

We eat at 8:30, and at 9:30 we invite our guests to walk over to Sunday school with us. No one has ever refused, and all our guests have become regular attenders.

—Joyce BaxleyMariana, Florida

» Sledders’ Outreach

Just north of our church is “Mad Dog Hill,” named for the screaming thousands who sled down it every winter. We opened our fellowship hall last year to give these sledders a place to warm up, serving hot drinks and cookies. At the same time, we administered some low-key evangelism, showing video testimonies of famous NFL players and setting up a tract table.

Charlie PaineGrandview, Missouri