August 21, 2025

“Can I get the large fries please?”

“Hm-hmnmn,” says the voice through the speaker.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that.”

“Large fries….hmhnm….” says the voice cryptically. 

“Yes, um, large fries.” I shift in my seat, trying to lean closer to the speaker. I feel like I’m solving a riddle. Ed and I are in the drive through of a restaurant, and I’m beginning to wonder if this was a good idea.

“Hmnmnmnm…hmnmnmnn…what…prefer?”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Would you like hmmmm or hmnmnm?”

“Um…the second one,” I say. How bad could it be?”

“Also…mhmnmnn…special….hmnmmhmmm…does that sound good?”

“What?”

“Hmhmmmnm…that ok?”

“I-um…yeah, I guess that’s ok,” I say. I turn to Ed, who is seated in the passenger seat next to me. “I’m not sure if I just agreed to extra ketchup or if I just signed all the rights to your books away.”

Ed chuckles. “I guess we’ll see. Also, I just had an idea. Maybe after we pay we should go inside and see how Benjamin is doing. I was thinking you could interview him about his testimony.” 

Benjamin is a friend of Ed’s who founded this restaurant. Although we’ve only met briefly in passing once before, I’ve heard he is a great marketplace minister, so I’m interested to meet him.

We pull up to the drive through window, and a young woman greets us with a big smile. “The fries will be ready in just a minute, I’m making them as you requested!” 

“Sounds good!” I say with a nervous smile. I’m in too deep now, I just have to go along with it. “You know what, my friend and I just decided to go inside, can I just get the fries there when they’re done?”

“Sure!”

I park the car and Ed and I stroll to the front doors of the restaurant. As we step into the air-conditioned dining area, I see a middle-aged man in a plaid shirt sitting at a table, typing on his computer. “Benjamin! Good to see you!” Ed says.

“Ed! Good to see you too,’ he says with a big smile. “And I remember you!” he says to me.

“It’s good to see you again!” I say. “Ed and I were wondering, could I interview you about what made you start this place?” I say.

“Of course!” He smiles and motions toward a table where we all sit down.

“So, what inspired you to make this restaurant a ministry?”

He leans back in his chair and his eyes become thoughtful. “Well, I grew up in this neighborhood, and my family didn’t have much. It’s hard to dream big when you can barely pay your bills,” he says. “That’s why I started this place, to give some of the people here a shot at something better,” he says. “When I was younger I couldn’t wait to get out of this neighborhood. I think God has sort of a sense of humor because one day I was praying and I told Him I’d minister wherever He called me. But then, guess where I ended up? He gave me a love for this place I’d never felt before. That’s when I founded the restaurant. Now, it’s really become a community. A lot of people in the neighborhood come here, not just for the food, but for the peaceful presence of God in this place. My wife and I get to pray for our customers and employees all the time. My goal is also to offer our workers extremely good pay, college scholarships, and further career opportunities. God’s really doing something special here.”

“This is incredible! It really shows how God has called all of us to minister in our sphere of influence, even in the unexpected places,” Ed says.

“So true. I pray every day for my staff and the customers, and it’s made all the difference,” says Benjamin. 

I finish typing my notes and turn to Benjamin. “Thank you so much for sharing! I know your testimony will encourage a lot of people,” I say.

“Order 58!”

“Is that yours?”

“Yes! But before I get that, let me know if there’s anything I can do to support you.”

“Well, that’s very kind of you. I’m not sure if you noticed, but our intercom system began breaking down yesterday…”

“I’d love to help with that!”

We chat for a minute and I get his contact info so we can stay in touch. After we say our goodbyes, I turn to the counter, unsure of what my order will look like. It feels like I’m going on a blind date. The worker from before emerges and points to one of the bags.

“Got your large fries for you; extra crispy with cheese, chopped onions, and jalapeños as requested.” I smile in relief, thank the worker, and take the bag. Just how I like them!

As we walk back to our car, Benjamin’s voice blares through the intercom: 

“Thank…Hmhmhmn…I hope…hmhm…hmnmnm…soon!” 

“You too!!” I shout back. A blush heats up my face. “I hope that was something good…”

– Eutychus

This story is fictionalized, but it’s based on many real-life testimonies from marketplace ministers from around the world. From people encountering God in a bar, to an ice cream vendor leading her mayor to the Lord, to California entrepreneurs ending the cycle of systemic poverty for former felons, God is doing truly amazing things through both pulpit and marketplace ministers! To find incredible real-life stories of transformation, click here.