We were outside at the foot of the driveway this past Friday. It was pretty cold, about -8C with a biting wind and flurries, but it was good to be there. We had a mission: give away hot chocolate to students passing by.
“Why are you doing this?” This was a question asked a few times, along with “What’s the catch?”.
“There’s no catch, and we’re doing it because it’s cold out.”
“...Well, what do I have to do to get it?
“You don’t have to do anything, just enjoy it. Do you want some marshmallows?”
It was a really interesting experience being out there, seeing the different reactions to a warm gift on a cold day. Not everyone was waiting for the “catch”. Some just beamed and said thank you. One girl on her cell phone told her friend on the other end “You won’t believe this, somebody is giving me a free hot chocolate!”
Some asked what this place was about. We told them about the Newman Centre, that it was a drop-in centre, chaplaincy and parish community of Catholic students, and that they were welcome there. Happily, some asked how to get more involved, what time Mass is at, and so forth. A few even went into the house for a look around.
Is this the point? Getting people in to the Newman Centre for the first time? Signing up some new members to get involved in the Catholic life on campus? Well, yes and no.
Yes we want to bring people in, to the house, and to the Chapel. Yes we’d each love to share our testimony of what God has done in our lives. How He is friend, how He is Saviour. How He (Jesus) is the way, the truth, and the life. How they can come to know and love Him, too! Given the opportunity, the right conversation, you would love to “give a reason for the hope that is in you, with gentleness and respect”. (1 Peter 3:15) I want to have that conversation. If they ask the question, I'll pounce on it!
“Why are you doing this?” This was a question asked a few times, along with “What’s the catch?”.
“There’s no catch, and we’re doing it because it’s cold out.”
“...Well, what do I have to do to get it?
“You don’t have to do anything, just enjoy it. Do you want some marshmallows?”
It was a really interesting experience being out there, seeing the different reactions to a warm gift on a cold day. Not everyone was waiting for the “catch”. Some just beamed and said thank you. One girl on her cell phone told her friend on the other end “You won’t believe this, somebody is giving me a free hot chocolate!”
Some asked what this place was about. We told them about the Newman Centre, that it was a drop-in centre, chaplaincy and parish community of Catholic students, and that they were welcome there. Happily, some asked how to get more involved, what time Mass is at, and so forth. A few even went into the house for a look around.
Is this the point? Getting people in to the Newman Centre for the first time? Signing up some new members to get involved in the Catholic life on campus? Well, yes and no.
Yes we want to bring people in, to the house, and to the Chapel. Yes we’d each love to share our testimony of what God has done in our lives. How He is friend, how He is Saviour. How He (Jesus) is the way, the truth, and the life. How they can come to know and love Him, too! Given the opportunity, the right conversation, you would love to “give a reason for the hope that is in you, with gentleness and respect”. (1 Peter 3:15) I want to have that conversation. If they ask the question, I'll pounce on it!
But as we are out there smiling and giving out hot chocolate to cold students I am also feeling the beauty of giving a small, simple, free, gift. I am reminded that faith is a gift. I am reminded that salvation is a gift. God’s love is free a gift. As I keep asking students walking by if they want a hot chocolate, smiling at them, chatting with them, scooping marshmallows for them, I think about how it all starts somewhere.
Mother Teresa said that “Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls”. To me, this speaks to our goal as campus missionaries. We meet students where they are. We share with them our joy. If they want, we will share with them our time. Our our ears. Or our thoughts. And (always), our friendship.
We gave away close to 200 hot chocolates that day. A student mentioned to me a few days later that she heard word around her residence that “some Christian group is giving out hot chocolate on the street”. It made me really happy to know that they identified us as Christians, because we weren’t really touting that. But we are Christians. It is our joy in Christ that motivates us to be outside on a freezing day. May this joy really be our “net of love” to catch souls on campus.
With a side of hot chocolate...
“Do you want some marshmallows with that?”
Mother Teresa said that “Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls”. To me, this speaks to our goal as campus missionaries. We meet students where they are. We share with them our joy. If they want, we will share with them our time. Our our ears. Or our thoughts. And (always), our friendship.
We gave away close to 200 hot chocolates that day. A student mentioned to me a few days later that she heard word around her residence that “some Christian group is giving out hot chocolate on the street”. It made me really happy to know that they identified us as Christians, because we weren’t really touting that. But we are Christians. It is our joy in Christ that motivates us to be outside on a freezing day. May this joy really be our “net of love” to catch souls on campus.
With a side of hot chocolate...
“Do you want some marshmallows with that?”
