Coming Soon: Faith Café

By Dale Reeves

“Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see””how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him” (Psalm 34:8, The Message).

In case you haven”t noticed, coffee is big business these days. In 2006 Starbucks posted overall sales of $7.8 billion. No wonder more and more restaurants are jumping on the ultra-cool coffee bandwagon. Panera Bread is only one of the many places you can order specialty drinks these days. Vanilla and hazelnut iced coffees can now be purchased at Dunkin” Donuts and McDonald”s. Burger King just introduced Mocha BK Joe Iced Coffee (now that”s a mouthful!).

A battle of the brews, if you will. And, how about all the indie coffeehouses in your town? A quick perusal of “coffee and tea” in my local yellow pages yielded no less than 33 independent establishments””with intriguing names like The Daily Grind Café and Pleasant Perk. Everybody wants to be the place for your daily cup (or more) of joe.

What is it, exactly, that is attracting consumers in record numbers? The aroma? The décor? The trendy, bohemian clientele? The music? The atmosphere?

By joe, I think we”ve discovered the secret. The coffeehouse craze is about more than just great coffee with extra whipped cream and syrups. It”s about the flavorful community that takes place there. People come to hang out with others who will let them be””at the risk of sounding trite””authentic. Sounds like something the church should be about, doesn”t it?

Create a Community

If you”re interested in designing a place in your church where people can create community with others who are seeking answers to similar questions, then we”d like to introduce you to Faith Café. This resource is designed for the church looking to create a comfortable spot for members and seekers alike who place a high value on community, authenticity, spiritual formation, and practical service to others.

Faith Café is for you if you want something beyond a lecture approach in a Bible study. If your church wants help drawing people together with experiential, interactive, media-driven learning””then Faith Café is worth checking out. It”s not a young adult thing, or the “cool club” in church””it”s all about community connection, and everyone is welcome.

This fall Standard Publishing will unveil the first phase of Faith Café, a topical curriculum designed for use in adult Bible fellowships. Each season features 13 unique episodes that offer a multisensory experience. Each week you”ll unpack a relevant topic such as knowing God, soul care, spiritual loneliness, greed, workaholism, the idols we worship, sharing our faith, and the Christian”s responsibility to the world. You”ll explore what the media has to say, what God has to say, real-life struggles others have faced, and some practical ways you can live out the truth.

Some of the unique extras that take this resource beyond vanilla are the recommended reading lists and relevant Web sites, as well as a DVD that includes interviews with people of influence like Larry Crabb, John Ortberg, and Stormie Omartian. Contemporary Christian artists also play at the Faith Café. Users will enjoy video clips of Jars of Clay, Margaret Becker, Derek Webb, Downhere, Ginny Owens, and others.

Faith Café even gives your church the opportunity to order a “morning devotion blend” from Jittery Joe”s coffee franchise. Check out www.standardpub.com/faithcafe for information on ordering coffee, coffee makers, aprons, signage, mugs, and T-shirts””everything you”ll need to create your own Faith Café in your church.

A second phase, Faith Café: the Home Edition, is set to debut in 2008. This version will have specific application for adult small groups meeting in homes. This small group experience delivers what you want: relevance, authenticity, and engagement. It”s the perfect tool to help you build your faith (and the faith of people around you) in a relaxing environment.

Packed with features to help you make the most of your group”s time together, Faith Café will help you build community and connect to fellow believers. It”s a place where you can meet new friends, share your thoughts on the topic of the day, or reach out to others with your needs.

Real Answers

Need a great pick-me-up in your church”s servings to adults searching for relevance, community, and spiritual answers to life”s questions? Faith Café asks questions about things that matter, provides real answers, and then challenges users to take small steps””or giant leaps””in their spiritual journeys.

Faith Café brings the coffeehouse to your home, church, or small group with the perfect blend of Scripture, inspiration, and insight. In no time you can pull together the cozy seating, appropriate furnishings, and comfort foods you”ll need to establish Faith Café in your church.

And you can count on us to deliver your steaming cup of spiritual java right on time. The coffee”s brewing!

 

 

Dale Reeves is acquisitions editor of adult ministry resources for Standard Publishing.