Ministry at McDonald’s

Some years ago, I decided to try something different in my community. I decided that I would go visit the same McDonald’s every morning for a month. I wanted to watch people, their habits and their way of life.

I remember finding a table in the corner, where I might be able to watch the entire dining area. It was amazing what I saw on that first day. Most came and went in a minute or two. Others came in, sat down and stayed and visited with others for a long time. Attitudes were all over the map. Some were warm, friendly and others were sullen, grumpy.

After a few days, I decided to focus on the ones who were there for an hour or more. These were the regulars. Every day, you find a group that would come. At one table was a group of ladies. A little farther away was a group of men. Then, another group of mixed company. All varying ages and backgrounds.

One day, after several weeks of watching, one came over to me and asked my name and what I did for a living. When I told them I was a minister, several began to come over a little at a time to visit.

Over the next several months, I began to see several who would come and sit by me and visit. We would start talking about things going on in the community and then the conversation would switch to talking about the Bible; often they would become a Bible study.

One of those who began coming was a young man who was pretty cocky to begin with but, as time went on, he wanted to know more about Jesus. He would ask all kinds of questions about Jesus and the Bible, and after a while I invited him to evangelistic meetings where he gave his heart to Jesus and was baptized.

Many others from McDonald’s would visit the church from time to time. Someone asked me my secret. I would simply answer, it was evangelism by hanging around. A simple way to witness from my home, so to speak, with a wonderful group of citizens from the community.

The good news is that every one of us can do that. May we always be willing to be used for the cause of Christ, even if it is simply hanging around people.

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By Richard C. Dye, Sr. President