– Book Review  – Growing People through Small Groups 

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A New Spin on the Coffee Shop Venue for Reaching Your Community

By Teena M. Stewart

Christian coffee shops were a venue created by Christians back in the 60's and 70's as a means of drawing people into the Christian community via refreshment and music. In recent years there has been a phenomenal resurgence in the popularity of coffee shops. When people pay for coffee, they pay for an experience -- a chance to savor the flavor of a frothy, pungent hot beverage where they can kick back, read a paper, or even meet with friends.

Some churches have started their own "coffee shops" right on their premises' . Following worship, members can enjoy a steaming brew and a donut while chatting with friends. Other churches have found that coffee shops with live music provide a unique way for members to participate in small groups and Bible study.

Jennifer Miskov, who is actively involved in discipling teens at her church, saw the opportunity to take the Christian message out into the world. She works full time for a widely known coffee shop chain. Aside from her discipleship ministry, Jennifer pondered the possibility of bringing live Christian music into the coffee shop where she works.

She approached the management with her idea. Now her local coffee shop boasts live music, an added plus for customers. For privacy reasons the actual name of the chain has been replaced with the words Coffee Shop Chain* during this interview. You can fill in the blanks.

MIM: Churches are always looking for ways to get outside the church walls and reach others for Christ but so often the world is resistant to that. When I first learned of this ministry I was dumbfounded that a popular coffee shop would let you do this. Usually we experience just the opposite when it comes to Christianity. I think many people would automatically assume that the door was closed.

Jennifer: The company is amazing. They believe in entrepreneurial spirit and in passion. They are open to all sorts of things as long as it follows their mission and is done in a tasteful way. I feel like God's given me favor and influence there. For the sake of respecting The Coffee Shop Chain* and upholding Christianity in a good light, I try to screen and make sure people don't come and have an all out worship service in the place. Number one, I don't believe that would be the most tactful way of attracting people to Christ, and number two I think it would cause people to feel like it's forced upon them. Instead, my desire is to get quality musicians who love Jesus and have them use their gifts in the world. When people fully live the gifts that they are given, God is glorified and people are attracted to Him.

MIM: Were you surprised that they gave you permission?

Jennifer: No, because I feel like there is wisdom and tact involved.

MIM: How are the customers responding?

Jennifer: We pack the house, usually by friends and family of the artists, yet several local customers always ask us when the next live music will take place. Many people enjoy the atmosphere.

MIM: What impact is this having on the people with whom you are working?

Jennifer: I am blessed with a solid team of workers at my store. One guy is a worship leader who is attending a Bible College. One is a missionary that is here right now. We have several other solid Christians working at the same coffee shop who have started to bring in bands as well. Customers are fine with it as long as the music is not too loud.

MIM: Many people wrestle with how they can get outside the church walls and be salt and light. What advice can you give other individuals and churches who might want to do something similar?

Jennifer: About four years ago a girl named Jenny prayed that God would bring more Christians to the Coffee Shop Chain where she was working. God ended up answering her prayers by sending me there. Currently, one of my co-workers and I try to meet and pray at least every other week to pray for our store and our co-workers. It's not the biggest prayer meeting, but God hears every single one of those prayers and is working.

MIM: What are some of the results?

Jennifer: This past year, when I started working at my new store we had only one to two other Christians working there besides myself. Now, after praying for God to bring in more Christians, we have at least 7 other solid Christians living and working in the real world and sharing God's love as they pour and serve coffee. It's important for us to be intentional in our workplaces or in areas where we have influence. We don't necessarily need to plan a huge event (although that can work too), but we can always be more intentional with our circles of influence.

MIM: Your story is certainly inspirational. I think Christians often feel they must hit people over the head with the gospel in order to reach them with the Christian message.

Jennifer: For me, two of the most important ingredients in being salt and light in the world are spending time with the Father and spending time with others who love Jesus. Getting in tune with the Father makes everything so easy and flow naturally. We can simply walk in the works that He has already prepared before hand for us. Spending time in prayer with others who have a similar heart to reach those around us helps us to be effective and purposeful in hearing God's heart and then responding.

You can contact Teena at Smartwords@sbcglobal.net  

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Ministry & Spiritual Maturity Resources

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Book Review – Growing People through Small Groups

By David Stark and Betty Veldman Wieland, Bethany House, 2004, 0764229125, 174 pages

Reviewed by Shane Parker

David Stark has published such resources as the LifeKeys books, is the director of Changing Church through the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, the founder of Church Innovations, and is a workshop and seminar leader in the U.S. Betty Veldman Wieland is a leader in Christian Reformed Home Missions small group ministry.

The authors set out to offer an overall outlook and approach to small group ministry which they call “principle-based” (13). The writers intentionally reject a “one-size fits all” approach to small group models, and opt for what they believe is an approach that will enable churches across size and denominational categories to “dream God’s dream fro their small group ministries” (13). The pattern of small group development is focused on establishing a small group “rooted in God’s will” specifically in relationship to the mission and vision of the individual church (19). The “sociological principles” serve as the foundation to the life and development of the small group because these serve as the underpinning of the progression of the individual group members (72ff.).

The authors’ hope is for the reader(s) to develop a small group approach that is rooted in facilitating and meeting the sociological needs of the participants, while leading to biblical “transformation” (87). The text offers an approach to small groups, which serves as a broad model; however, it is a general framework rather than the rigid system which is often submitted in small group texts.

The work would be an excellent resource for an administrator of small groups, and individual small group leaders. The format of the book allows the reader to evaluate and review the content through “Summary Questions” at the close of each section. This feature allows for easy adaptability for either individualized study, or scheduled teacher/group leader training sessions. “Growing People through Small Groups” serves as a clear, concise, and informative look at the heart of small group strategy and effective practice, and it should serve the committed small group administrator and facilitator well.