When God Nudges, We Respond

Sometimes, the most profound acts of service begin with a whisper from God, a gentle nudge that leads to something far greater than we could imagine. Our church, Roseisle Pentecostal Assembly, recently experienced this firsthand. What started as a simple act of obedience, handing out free cold water at the Carman Fair, became a story of God’s provision, community teamwork, and unexpected blessings. We hope that by sharing our journey, other churches in our PAOC district will be inspired to listen for those divine nudges and step out in faith to serve their own communities.

Listening for God’s Voice

Every great story in the Kingdom of God seems to begin with prayer. For several weeks leading up to the Carman Fair, our church family had been intentionally seeking God’s direction about how we could serve our community. Total shout out to Jeremiah Raible from the Alberta District who provided us with a list of ideas that we could try to increase our outreach efforts.  Our desire was simple: to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a way that was practical, loving, and impactful. We knew the fair was coming up, a highlight in our small town’s calendar, drawing people from all over the area. But what could we do that would truly bless people?

It’s easy to overcomplicate the mission. We sometimes think it needs to be a grand gesture or an expensive project. But as we prayed, both Amanda and I kept sensing the same, almost laughably simple idea: hand out bottles of cold water at the fair.

On the surface, it seemed almost too basic. Would this really make a difference? But as we continued to pray, the conviction grew stronger. We felt God reminding us that sometimes the smallest acts of kindness can open the biggest doors for the gospel. Jesus Himself spoke of giving “even a cup of cold water” in His name (Matthew 10:42). At that moment, we knew what we had to do.

The Importance of Listening

Listening for God’s voice isn’t always dramatic. It’s often quiet, coming in the form of repeated thoughts, gentle impressions, or a deep sense of peace about a particular action. If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that obedience is the key, no matter how small the task seems.

“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much.” ,  Luke 16:10

And so, with a sense of excitement and a touch of nervousness, we began to plan.

Reaching Out to the Community

Before we bought a single bottle of water, we knew we needed to ask the fair committee for permission. It’s always important to approach community leaders with respect and transparency. We wanted them to know that we were there to serve, not to compete or cause confusion.

I composed a simple email:

Good day,

Our church is planning on handing out some free water bottles during the fair coming up this year. Will there be any concerns about us handing out free water?

Thank you,

Pastor Barry Mossip

Within a couple of days, we received a gracious response from Trish Aubin, a member of the fair committee:

Good afternoon,

This is a wonderful offer and we are hoping for beautiful weather. We have no issues with the Roseisle Pentecostal Assembly handing water out. If you choose to do this for another year, might we suggest checking a little earlier with us in case we have a sponsor who is supplying water to visitors. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Kind regards,

Trish Aubin

Their openness and encouragement gave us confidence that God was already preparing the way.

Start with Respect

Whenever you’re considering community outreach, start by reaching out to those in charge. Whether it’s a town fair, school event, or community festival, showing respect for their process builds trust and opens doors for future ministry.

Small Steps, Big Faith

With permission secured, Amanda and I headed to the local store and purchased 100 bottles of water. It felt like a good start, but as we did the math, we realized this probably wouldn’t last long at the fair. We wanted to step out in faith, but we also wanted to involve our church family.

The following Sunday, we shared our vision with the congregation. We explained the simple idea behind the outreach, and asked if anyone would be willing to help, either by donating bottles of water, providing a cooler, or volunteering their time.

The Multiplier Effect

By the end of the week, we had received donations of another 100 bottles of water, as well as a large cooler and several bags of ice. It was a beautiful reminder of how God uses the body of Christ, each person bringing what they can, and together accomplishing far more than any one of us could on our own.

We weren’t done yet, though. As the week went on, Amanda and I realized we’d need even more water to meet the potential need at the fair. We made another trip to the store, purchasing enough to bring our total to 650 bottles.

The Ministry of Labels

Wanting each bottle to feel personal, we purchased simple printable labels. On each label, we included our church logo and a short, friendly message, “God Loves You! & So Do We!” along with our address and website. We wanted every person who received a bottle to know that it was more than just water; it was a tangible expression of God’s care.

Multiplying Blessing Through Unity

As the bottles piled up in our living room, Amanda and I realized we had a big job ahead: 650 bottles, every one needing a label. Over two nights, we set up a little assembly line in our living room. We prayed over each bottle as we affixed the labels, asking God to use this simple gift to touch hearts and open conversations.

There’s something sacred about these “hidden” acts of service. No one else saw us in the living room at midnight, praying over bottle after bottle. But God saw. And in those quiet moments, I felt a deep sense of joy. This is what church is supposed to be, a community coming together to love others in practical, prayerful ways.

Praying Over Every Bottle

We didn’t want this outreach to be just a “giveaway.” We wanted it to be a spiritual act, something that would carry the presence of God into each interaction.

As Amanda and I labeled bottles late into the night, we prayed specific prayers:

• That each person who received a bottle would feel God’s love and care.

• That opportunities for deeper conversation would open up.

• That anyone who was lonely or hurting would sense hope.

• That our church would be a light in our community.

We believe that prayer changes things. Even though we might never know the full impact of those prayers, we trusted that God would move.

At the Fairgrounds

The Carman Fair weekend arrived, and we loaded up our coolers with the first 100 bottles, chilled and ready to go. We walked in with a simple red wagon with a sign that read, “Free Cold Water!”

Within the first 30 minutes, every bottle was gone.

It was a hot day, and people were grateful. Some were surprised, most expected there to be a catch. But there wasn’t. We simply smiled and offered them water.

That night, we refilled our coolers and loaded two fridges with another 250 bottles. The next day, we returned and handed out every last one. By the final day of the fair, we had distributed all 650 bottles.

The Ministry of Availability

We didn’t have a big sound system or flashy banners. We just had cold water, smiles, and a willingness to listen. Over the course of the weekend, we had dozens of conversations, some light and friendly, others deeply meaningful. A few people asked why we were doing this, and we had the chance to share about God’s love in a natural, conversational way.

What We’d Do Differently

Every outreach brings opportunities to learn and grow. Here are a few things we’ll keep in mind for next time:

Start Planning Earlier: While our fair committee was gracious, next year we’ll connect even earlier to coordinate with any other sponsors.

More Volunteers: Labeling and distributing hundreds of bottles is a big job. The more hands, the better!

Prayer Station: We found that some people were open to prayer. Setting up a small “Prayer Available” sign may encourage more to ask.

Shade and Seating: Providing a few chairs and a canopy would have made a larger difference.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Since the fair, we’ve heard stories from people in the community about how much the simple gift of water meant to them. We’re already dreaming about what’s next: an Alpha, a neighborhood BBQ, or maybe a prayer walk through our town. The possibilities are endless when we listen for God’s voice and step out in faith.

The Gospel in a Bottle of Water

At the end of the day, our mission isn’t about bottles of water, it’s about people. It’s about making the love of Jesus tangible in everyday ways. As you consider how your church can serve your community, remember that God can use the simplest acts of kindness to open hearts and change lives.

If you’ve read this far, we want to encourage you: God is already at work in your town, your neighborhood, your street. All He asks is that we listen for His voice, say “yes,” and step out, even if it’s just with a bottle of cold water.

Blessings! From RPA and Pastor Barry/Amanda Mossip.