Every Sunday morning from 7-9, we set up right in front of our community center. There are no church walls, no stage lights, and no formal invitations, just people, worship, warm drinks, and the presence of God. We call it Pop-Up Church. One Sunday, a man walking by stopped because he saw the line forming for hot chocolate. He smiled, joined the line, and joked that he was only there for the drink. As he received his cup, he lingered. The worship had already started, and instead of leaving, he found a seat at the back.

As the music continued, his posture changed. What began as casual curiosity turned into quiet attention. When the short message was shared, it spoke about God seeing us right where we are. The man nodded slowly, as if the words were landing deeper than he expected. When we offered prayer at the end, he hesitated, then stepped forward.

As we prayed, he shared that it had been a hard season, no home, no rest, no friends, and a growing sense of hopelessness. With a cup of hot chocolate still in his hand, standing on the sidewalk, he experienced prayer for the first time in years. Tears came, followed by a deep breath and a simple smile. “I didn’t plan to come to church today,” he said, “but I think I needed this.”

That’s what Pop-Up Church looks like for us. People come for something warm, and often they leave with something deeper, a reminder that God meets us in ordinary places, on ordinary mornings, sometimes holding a paper cup of hot chocolate.