It’s a ubiquitous truth that when a friend wants to catch up, a student needs to study, or your family comes to town to say a quick hello, heading to your local coffee shop is natural. Much like the dinner table, people gather around the coffee pot with vigor—no matter what you drink—drip, espresso, tea, or energy drink. So, in 2008, when the idea of a coffee stand within the walls of Faith Bible Church came up, it felt like an obvious choice.
“The coffee cart is a relaxing place to welcome—especially welcome newcomers, and I think welcome the family of the church,” says Larry Myers, who ran the coffee cart with his wife Molly, from 2008 until 2020.
Larry and Molly used it as a training ground to help equip younger believers to serve the church: “It was a good place for them to learn how to count change! How to be open and welcome a customer. How to then make coffee drinks, be responsible, holding a schedule... and communication, big on communication,” says Larry. They set a foundational groundwork for those who had never worked a job, or served in ministry before, coming alongside them in that way, and building them up.
Volunteers work together to run the coffee shop.
From day one, the primary goal of serving espresso at Faith Bible Church was to raise money for missions. Faith has been blessed in its ability to give generously to worldwide missions for many years, and any way to raise extra for this purpose is exciting. While not every person may be called to uproot their lives, and plant themselves in another culture—living life on life with an entirely new people group for the purpose of building the body overseas—each of us is called to missions in our own way. This is the root of our new name, Tribe Coffee & Books.
While much of our ministry is on a weekly basis to the body of Faith, our long-term mission is to uplift our Global Outreach Partners by financially supporting them and raising awareness to pray for them as they take the word to every tribe, language, people, and nation.
I remember how excited I was to step behind the coffee cart and make “real coffee.” My time serving with Larry and Molly taught me commitment, how to take constructive criticism, work well with others, and use basic listening skills. I didn’t realize then that I was being trained for future ministry work, as well as future job opportunities. The experience I gained from the two years I spent making coffee at the Coffee Cart led me to my work at Dutch Bros. I was a better employee going into those 5 years because of the Myers. So, when I saw the sign go up this spring mentioning the need for a new manager, I started envisioning the way God could have me fit into that picture.
Looking back on the way putting Faith’s coffee cart on my resume launched me into the world of coffee, God opened my eyes to the potential this part of our church body could have in making a big impact on more than just the Global Outreach ministry.
On the most practical level: The world requires entry level workers, to be able to function as an integral member of the workplace. More often than not, they require you to have experience, but the cycle is vicious—how can you get experience to get a job without someone being willing to hire you on no experience? Built into Tribe Coffee & Books is the practical expression of this kind of training, and a parallel to the life of a ministry worker—giving body and heart to the mission of Christ.
Titus 2 gives us a clear mandate to train up the youth of our church, and for the youth to seek to learn from their elders. It is not enough to fill our classrooms, stand beside one another and sing, or to pray on our own in the moments of silence. These are all vital to the life of the church, but when we neglect carrying one another through them we become stunted in our faith and foolishly independent. I have been deeply convicted that the heart cry of our ministry work should be to serve one another and glorify God by carrying out that mandate—and this includes the kind of practical training that is provided by Tribe Coffee & Books.
Left: Volunteer Ivanna Morokhovets serves coffee to congregants between services.
However, I always assumed that I was too young to be anything but a learner. I couldn’t possibly have enough to give to train up another person yet. But God is gracious to use and grow every member of our church, whatever their age or gifts. Everyone has their own giftedness—not the least of which can be hospitality.
In every stage, Christ’s ministry had a strong basis in hospitality. He ate with people. He sat with them. He talked with them and healed them. Coffee is a piece of culture people everywhere often seek out, and when we understand the importance of that culture in warming up this space, we take the church to others the way Jesus did. To be among them, and welcome them, even though we are not of them.
Over time, we’ve created a place where a newcomer can walk through the doors and have an obvious next step—they may not know the people that are suddenly in their path—but they know coffee! Therefore, we’ve curated a place where we can welcome people into our meetings, hand them a cup of coffee, catered specifically to them, and make them feel at home. And in doing so, coffee is not just coffee. Just like inviting someone to lunch after service is never just lunch. And a song is never just a song. And a prayer is never just a prayer. God designed us to comprehend these things, and use them to become more like him, together. To reach our community. To enable our partners overseas. To lift one another up in good works, and a good cup of joe.
Naomi and her husband Jeremiah serve in Music Ministry. She also serves the church as the manager of Tribe Coffee & Books.
View Resources by Naomi Taylor