Some of the most meaningful ministry moments don’t happen in a church building.
They happen during ordinary errands.
Before I headed to the computer that morning, I asked Joey,
“What would you like me to do for you before work?”
He asked if I would take his bass guitar to his office around the corner.
Then he asked if I’d make his lunch…
…and pick up his favorite drink.
A Coke Zero.
We laughed because this has become one of our standing jokes.
At first we’d stop at Circle K because we could use the app and buy a Coke Zero for less than a dollar.
Then we discovered the McDonald’s app, where we could usually get one for about a dollar.
So I teased him.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stop at McDonald’s or Circle K?”
He smiled.
Then he said something that stopped me.
“No. I want to get it from Izzy.”
It had nothing to do with the Coke.
It had everything to do with the person.
At Gateway Stories, we’ve learned that people are almost always the real destination.
When I stopped at Chevron…
…Izzy wasn’t there again.
Teri smiled and said,
“She should be back tomorrow.”
Instead of feeling disappointed…
…I found myself encouraged.
Tomorrow means there’s another opportunity.
Another chance to say hello.
Another chance to invite Izzy to a Gateway Stories Night.
Because relationships are rarely built in one conversation.
They grow…
…one ordinary encounter at a time.
Teri often has worship music playing throughout the store.
As customers come in for coffee, gas, tobacco, alcohol, lottery tickets, or whatever else brought them through those doors…
…she quietly serves each one with kindness.
And as they leave…
…she often smiles and says,
“God bless you.”
I looked at her and said,
“I think you’re a quiet witness.”
She smiled.
Then she thanked me.
As I walked back to the car…
…I noticed evidence of brokenness in the parking lot.
Just moments before, worship music had been filling the store.
The contrast couldn’t have been greater.
Then Joey’s words from earlier that week came back to me.
“If we’re going to be a light in the darkness…
…we have to go into the darkness.”
Maybe that’s what the Kingdom looks like.
Not always from a stage.
Sometimes…
…from behind the counter of a convenience store.
Sometimes…
…carrying a bass guitar.
Sometimes…
…over a $1.95 Coke Zero.
Tomorrow means there’s another opportunity.
Another chance to say hello.
Another chance to invite someone.
Another chance to simply be present.
Sometimes…
…the Kingdom grows that way.
One ordinary conversation…
…at a time.