What do free hot dogs, Bibles, and a community meal have in common? For us at Windhaven Church in Mount Jackson, Virginia, they have become central to how we reach out to our neighbors.
In an era where culture is rapidly shifting, these simple, practical acts of love have become our most effective tools for breaking down barriers and sharing the gospel. It started with a couple in our church who began giving away hot dogs during lunch at various locations around our area. They do this as a personal ministry, placing Bibles and Christian literature into the hands of anyone open to receiving them. Over the last year, this couple became active at Windhaven, and we partnered together. Lately, we have been able to set up on Saturdays at a local hardware store right in the middle of town.
This central, bustling location gives us a front-row seat to the neighborhood, and many people who stop by are blown away that we just give away free hot dogs. We explain that they are free, just as the gift of salvation Jesus gives is. Last summer, we modified this ministry a bit to fit with a local tradition. The annual Yard Crawl is a giant yard sale that spans the entire Shenandoah Valley on U.S. Highway 11. Many locals express how annoying it is to navigate the frenzied foot and vehicle traffic on Highway 11 during that Saturday in August. While it can be frustrating, it is also an opportunity. How often do people from all over the region come out ready to shop and walk outdoors in our community?
People set up booths for miles, selling everything you can imagine. So, last August, we found a location and set up a booth giving away free bottles of cold water. We put up a sign that read “Free Water Free Prayer,” and laid out Bibles, New Testaments, and gospel tracts in both English and Spanish.
It was a warm day, and shoppers very much appreciated the water. This led to many good interactions. We placed Scriptures in the hands of many people, prayed with them about everything you can possibly imagine, and pointed them toward our church.
One interesting encounter happened when a group of cyclists from Maryland heard about us. They had been on a tough ride over a mountain and were low on water. While they seemed a bit more interested in the water than the Bibles, we were thrilled to help meet a practical need.
This street ministry is still developing, but it fits the impulses of our community. Not one person has been hostile toward us. Some politely keep walking, but no one seems to get upset about free hot dogs, water, prayer, and Bibles.
But our outward focus isn’t limited to the sidewalks and hardware stores; it also takes shape around the dinner table during our monthly community meal. On the first Wednesday of every month, our church provides a meal for anyone in the community who might need it. A man in our church has led this ministry for years. He usually provides the main dish—everything from Thanksgiving turkey to sloppy joes or pulled pork—while others bring side dishes.
This evening meal normally draws a crowd from beyond our congregation. For many years, it was attended by a group of young men from a local live-in addiction recovery ministry. It gave us a chance to get to know them, share a meal, and help point them to Jesus as their path to freedom. They usually brought some great food to share, too.
These are just a few ways we try to stay outward-focused. I think many people in the American church have been beaten down in recent years. Shifts in the culture, changes in how community is defined, and the rise of a largely post-Christian generation make many want to hole up in their own Christian bunkers. Yet, when we reach out in love, most people are receptive to it. And many start to realize their true need for Jesus.
Pastor George Brewer
Windhaven Church
