The simple act of offering a cup of cold water and lemonade on a hot summer day, served with a smile and a prayer, opened hundreds of hearts to the gospel recently in downtown Chicago.
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That’s how a 19-member mission team from New Philadelphia Ministries in St. Petersburg, Florida, began its first day on a week in June to share the gospel with people in the city. The team set up in an area between a busy train and bus terminal to greet commuters. The ministry, called “Cups of Compassion,” is an initiative of the Send Relief Chicago Ministry Center of the North American Mission Board.
‘For us’
Many passersby reacted positively to the kind gesture.
“Ya’ll came here from Florida to give us the gospel,” one man commented.
“Wow! You came up here to do this for us.”
Pastor Jon Matthews, of New Philadelphia Fellowship Church, led the team and was pleased that the group connected with about 300 people that day.
“We prayed for about half of them and led at least three people to Christ,” he said.
The most important thing about these events for the missions team is it gives them an opportunity to share the gospel.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Laura Sikes and originally published by the Florida Baptist Convention.
