You Don't Need Permission to Love People
Twelve years ago, Katie and I started walking the streets of Hamilton with sandwiches and a willingness to pray with anyone who wanted it. No stage. No budget. No training course. Just Matthew 25 ringing in our ears: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
That little act of obedience became Love on Hamilton — and eventually a family of ministries reaching the nations. If God is stirring you to start something in your city, here's everything we've learned, honestly and practically.
Step 1: Start With Prayer, Not a Plan
Before you print a flyer or buy a case of water bottles, walk your city and pray. Ask God to break your heart for what breaks His. The ministry that lasts is born in prayer, not in planning meetings. This step never ends — twelve years in, we still start every outreach night in prayer.
Step 2: Pick One Night and Guard It
Consistency is the whole ballgame. We chose Friday nights and never let go — rain, snowstorms, holidays. People on the street don't remember your flyer; they remember that you came back. One faithful night a week beats a big event once a year, every time.
Step 3: Keep the Supplies Simple
You need less than you think: sandwiches or hot drinks, socks and gloves in winter, and time. The food opens the door, but it was never about the food — it's about stopping, learning names, and treating people like the image-bearers they are.
Step 4: Lead With Presence, Not a Pitch
Don't preach at people — sit with them. Ask their name and remember it. Ask how you can pray. You'll be amazed how many people who want nothing to do with church will gladly receive prayer from someone who showed up two weeks in a row. Love earns the right to be heard.
Step 5: Follow Up Like It Matters (Because It Does)
The breakthrough is almost never the first conversation — it's the tenth. Remember prayer requests. Ask about the job interview. This is exactly why we built KingdomBase, a free evangelism CRM: so no name, need, or prayer request slips through the cracks. And OikosMap works the same way for the mission field you already live in.
Step 6: Don't Go Alone
Take at least one other person — for wisdom, for safety, and because Jesus sent them two by two (Luke 10:1). Tell your church what you're doing and invite them in. If you want help connecting with other Kingdom workers, that's what Thy Kingdom Network exists for.
Step 7: Keep Going When It's Unglamorous
Some nights nothing visible happens. You'll hand out food, get a few nods, and go home tired. Do not despise those nights. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9). The harvest math belongs to God — one plants, another waters, but God gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6).
Common Questions
Do I need my church's permission? You need Jesus' commission (Matthew 28:19) — but do tell your church leaders and invite their blessing and cover. Ministry flourishes under healthy community, not lone-ranger heroics.
Is it safe? Go in pairs or teams, stay in lit public areas, hold things loosely, and use wisdom. In twelve years of weekly outreach, love and respect have opened far more doors than they've closed.
What should I say? Less than you think. Your first sentence is "Hi, I'm ___ — would you like a sandwich?" and your best sentence is "How can I pray for you?" The Holy Spirit handles the rest.
What does it cost? Our first outreaches cost less than a tank of gas. Start with what you have — faithfulness scales, budgets follow.
Your City Is Waiting
If this stirred something in you, act on it this week — prayer-walk one street. And if we can help, reach out through KD-Ziedins.com or join us some Friday in Hamilton. To see where this kind of simple obedience can lead, look at Love on The World — it all started with sandwiches.
"Let all that you do be done in love." — 1 Corinthians 16:14