He wanted nothing to do with the Bible.

Then one conversation in a Dairy Queen booth changed the direction of his life.

Not a sermon. Not a seminary class. Just a youth leader, a fast-food table, and a simple conversation about Jesus.

His name is Hakeem Bradley.

And before he became a biblical scholar, a forthcoming author, and one of our featured speakers at PREACH26, he was a young man who had been taught to distrust Scripture.

He was taught to see the Bible as a tool of oppression—to believe faith in Jesus simply was not for him.

The Power of an Invitation

But then a youth leader named Phil walked up to him at a high school soccer game.

Not with a sermon. Not with a theological argument. Just an invitation: “Come with me Monday night.”

Hakeem showed up.

And what he found surprised him. Faith wasn’t cold. It wasn’t lifeless. It wasn’t just rules and arguments.

It was a real community marked by joy.

A few months later, Hakeem and Phil sat across from each other at Dairy Queen.

Phil didn’t walk him through a complicated program.

He simply talked about Jesus—His character, His miracles, His mercy.

And sitting in that fast-food booth, Hakeem looked at him and said three words that changed everything:

“I want in.”

A Front-Row Seat to Faith

But that moment was only the beginning.

What followed was years of ordinary, relational faithfulness.

Phil invited Hakeem to sit in the front row of his life. They led 6 AM Bible studies before school.

Hakeem watched Phil follow Jesus as a husband, a father, and a leader—not just when life was easy, but through every season.

Over time, Hakeem didn’t just hear about trust in Jesus; he saw it lived.

That one invitation at a soccer game set something massive in motion:

• A changed life.
• Years of pastoral ministry.
• Deep academic research.
• Impactful work with BibleProject.
• The launch of Sacred Patterns, a ministry helping the next generation discover the beauty of God’s Word.

Ordinary Faithfulness Builds the Kingdom

Pastor, do not underestimate the power of one faithful invitation.

You may never know what God is doing through a conversation after practice, a fast-food meeting, a before-school Bible study, or an open door into your life.

Phil did not know that a Dairy Queen booth would help shape a future biblical scholar.

He was simply faithful with the person in front of him.

And that is often how God builds His kingdom—not through moments that feel impressive, but through ordinary faithfulness, repeated over time.

So keep showing up. Keep opening Scripture. Keep making invitations.

Because the next person you sit across from may be one conversation away from saying, “I want in.”

See Hakeem Bradley Live

And if you are a pastor who wants to hear Hakeem Bradley in person, Hakeem will be one of our featured speakers at PREACH26, our first-ever preaching conference happening October 6–8 in The Woodlands, Texas.

You can learn more and register at preach26.com.

I’m Justin Trapp, and this has been Ministry Minute.