Bread Machine Discipleship
I recently ran across something I would consider an absolutely ingenious ministry idea. I hesitate in calling it a “ministry” because certainly, someone out there will turn it into a methodology or a program and empty it of its power. But, I found a guy who buys used bread machines from local second-hand stores, cleans them up, and waits for the Lord to tell him who to give them to.
In the course of his daily life, Jim will talk with people and engage them. The poor, the depressed, and the spiritual seeker, are just a few of the types who make eligible receivers of bread machines. Jim will identify a need in a person and then ask them if it would be ok to come over give them a bread machine and then show them how to use it. The ingredients for the first few batches of dough are part of the gift and the bread baking begins.
They are taught to bake bread as Jim demonstrates, but thats not all. Once all the ingredients are put into the machine, there’s nothing left to do except wait and talk, pray, or counsel with people. As Jim puts it, when the smell of fresh-baked bread fills the house it opens the mouths and hearts of the people within. The fragrance of fresh bread leads to the fragrance of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15). Jim uses this simple idea to make disciples of Jesus.
That’s being missional! What a simple and effective way of inserting the gospel into an environment that is without it.
I’m curious…
What innovative and non-threatening ways do you have of reaching in to other’s lives?
CommentsTell Jim, I impressed with this innovative idea. I'm sure he'll ... by Kirk StephensRelated StoriesDisenfranchised Disciple MakersThe Half-Life of an Evangelism Gadget or MethodThat One Moment of Necessary Evangelism Awkwardness.
