Just a space and a dream...

We have an idea.

We think that what we are supposed to do is make an internet cafe here at the church so that we can offer internet to people in the community.

At first, it may seem like something that is not very compelling to support. Here is my rationale for a coffee shop.

First, we are here to raise leaders to serve and follow Christ. We desire to cultivate some leaders in the community to do the work of Jesus and for them to take that leadership, and change the community.

Second, in order to do that, we need a place to engage with the community, employ people, and to be able to train people with computers and internet skills.

Third, ministry takes time. We want to be able to have a safe way to engage with people. Evangelists aren't the easiest people to approach. Coffee shop people are less threatening.

Putting all of these things together, we dream of a place where people in the community can come to the church, use the internet, learn what it is like to drink a freshly roasted latte with the "God shot" of perfect crema.....a quote from Pastor Dahlstrom at Bethany Community in Seattle(we would like to have our own roaster), engage in a community of love and acceptance, and to feel the hope of people who believe in them and want to see them succeed.

That is why we are here. We want to spread hope into this place that is filled with unemployment, despair, and a basic distrust that anything good is going to happen. I believe that God has a different plan. He wants to show people that He can bring beauty out of nothing and He asks us to be a part of it.

If this interests you as well, let us know how we can include you in creating a coffee shop in a place where people don't drink coffee yet. We would love to partner with you to make this happen. The space here at the church has been given to us by the Pastor. They use it for the nursery right now but it will be available to us soon. The space has a lot of windows and cool wood beams on the ceiling.

We are starting with nothing. No latte maching, no counter, no computers, no idea of how to run a internet cafe. Just a space and a dream.