Hot Dogs in the Park

By Lyal Field

Our church was looking for a way to reach people for Christ who we were not reaching. Through many hours of prayer and God leading, our outreach team (Focus One of the Medford Neighborhood Church) decided to minister to the people who live around Union Park in Medford. But how does one reach people in a creative way in the community that they have never met?

We decided to bring a hot dog cart and begin giving away hot dog meals to anyone who wanted one. That simple start has led to serving hundreds of hot dog meals in Union Park on the third Saturday of each month. We have done it for the past three years during the summer months.

As important as the free hot dogs were, the sharing of God’s Love was our main Focus. Each Month we’d bring along with our hot dogs our outreach team, music team, and youth group for the sole purpose of loving on people. Many new relationships, between the light and the lost are made each month. One lady comes and passes out flyers for us. Another provides electricity for the music team and the inflatable fun house. Another brings snacks to be passed out. We are building friends and discover each month that more and more of the neighborhood want to be involved. The people bless us as much or more than we bless them. Praise be to GOD…that’s the way He’d work things out. The people surrounding the park regularly thank us for coming and sharing God’s Love.

This September we are bringing The Jesus Film to the residents around the park in hope that many will discover a Jesus that they may never have known. We hope to have hundreds come and we invite other churches to partner with us to be available to those who may make a decision to follow Jesus. In fact, we want to encourage other churches to adopt a local park and begin their own hot dog ministry. Perhaps we can work together to reach our communities for the Kingdom of God.

Plan to join us at 6:00 pm, Saturday, September 19 at Union Park. We’ll bring the hot dogs, you bring your support and prayers. As the evening begins to darken, we will show the Jesus Film, followed by an alter call. Please invite your lost friends and PRAY with us that many will be saved.

Lyal Fields writes from Medford, Oregon.