LITTLE ROCK – Bienvenue. Добро пожаловать. Beinvenida. 欢迎. Willkommen. Benvenuta.
Those are just a few variations of “Welcome” on a sign that greets visitors at 7:9 Snoball stand in Little Rock. The display of “Welcome” in various languages leads to families having conversations about the nations.
That is the vision for 7:9 Snoball, “to raise awareness for the people around the world who have yet to hear the Good News. This Good News is that through Jesus Christ we can be made right with God. It is through His life death and resurrection that we have hope. We long for the day when Revelation 7:9 becomes a reality in which someone from every nation, tribe, people and language will come to know, love, obey and worship Jesus. We want to use the simple concept of a snoball to bring people together and share about unreached peoples and nations. Our hope is that we all realize Jesus is for every person in the world and it is our responsibility to share his Good News.”
Sheffield Coulter and her husband, Ben Coulter, who serves as the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) minister, opened the Cajun style snoball stand earlier this year. Ben said Sheffield is always looking for a side venture to take on. The snoball stand was one of those venture ideas.
Following a visit with International Mission Board leaders while they were in town for the Eight Steps of the Missions Continuum, Sheffield said they were encouraged to do more.
“It got us thinking, what is our role beyond our paycheck? Beyond our job? Our lives are very much Jesus focused, but what are we doing to spread the Gospel even more? You can use your job for ministry, whatever it is. I think it has been very beneficial for our kids to see, yes, we’re selling snoballs, but there is more purpose behind it. Snoballs are our vehicle,” Sheffield said.
“We want people to see too you can talk about Jesus in your everyday life. The simplicity of whatever you’re doing, Jesus needs to be a part of that. Whether it is your business or a hobby, whatever it is, you are doing that for Him and His glory among all the peoples of the world.”
The stand’s name, which they developed with the help of BCM students, is derived from Revelation 7:9, “After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands.”
The family is raising awareness of the 7:9 moment in Revelation and unreached peoples one snoball at a time.
“It’s just kind of evolved and we hope it will continue to evolve,” Sheffield said.
As they continue to advance, the couple said they want to incorporate a weekly “unreached” snoball that brings focus to a specific place or people. For instance, they recently offered a Brighton Beach snoball, which featured an Asian sauce, whipped cream and baklava. They travel to Brighton Beach every spring break to reach the Uzbeks there.
“We want to do something that is culturally unique, but also raises awareness for that people,” Ben said.
The stand, which is primarily staffed by high school and college students and Sheffield’s dad, is open from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It is located at 14524 Cantrell Rd., Little Rock.
For more information, check out the 7:9 Snoball on Facebook and Instagram.