Field Note Sample (Approx. 350 words)

Discipleship at the Bus Stop

By: Sarah L., Youth Mentor in Chicago

Every weekday morning, I wait at the bus stop with a group of teenagers headed to school. For years, I saw this time as a gap in my day — a necessary but unimportant routine. That changed when one of the students, Malik, asked if I could pray for his mom who had just lost her job.

That moment opened my eyes. The bus stop wasn’t wasted time; it was an opportunity for discipleship.

What Changed

Instead of standing quietly with my headphones, I began engaging more intentionally. I asked students about their lives, their families, and what they were excited or worried about. Conversations began to flow, and soon it wasn’t unusual for a group of us to pray right there on the corner before the bus arrived.

Malik started bringing his Bible with him. Another student began asking questions about Jesus. What once felt like small talk became a space for real growth.

Lessons Learned

1. Everyday places matter.
Discipleship doesn’t only happen in church buildings. A bus stop, coffee shop, or front porch can become holy ground.

2. Presence builds trust.
Simply showing up consistently communicates care. Students knew I’d be there every morning, and that created space for deeper conversations.

3. Keep it simple.
We didn’t need a program or curriculum. All it took was listening, asking questions, and inviting God into the moment.

Encouragement

If you’re looking for where to start discipling others, don’t overcomplicate it. Look at the ordinary routines of your day. Who do you already see regularly? What would it look like to be more intentional in those spaces?

For me, discipleship started with a prayer at the bus stop. For you, it might start in the break room, the classroom, or on your street. Wherever it is, Jesus is already there — waiting to meet people through you.