I got to Starbucks this morning and couldn’t leave. There was too much ministry and other activities happening. Here’s a recap of my hour and a half experience:
1. Met three people who are “considering attending Grace Community Church”.
2. Talked with a family who visited the Sunday prior and enjoyed it. (I wasn’t preaching, so it was one of our good Sundays.)
3. Answered over a dozen emails, including one about “once saved always saved”, one about baptism, one about a marriage struggle, and one about the church’s doctrine.
4. Met a man who really kept wanting to talk, wanted my input in playing his online poker game, excitedly shared that he won $6 gambling, told me he quit church because all they do is “waste money”, and may give our church a try this Sunday!
5. Talked with and tried to encourage a new city councilperson who is doing a great job and has a positive vision for our city.
6. Accepted 6 new Facebook friends. Welcome!
7. Responded to 9 direct messages via Twitter.
8. Took a call from a desperate man trying to save his marriage.
9. Encouraged an Austin Peay professor I hear is very well liked by her students.
10. Visited briefly with a local pastor. Great guy!
The same type experience happens every Sunday night when Cheryl and I make our weekly Wal Mart trip. I am thinking I may need to do this more often.
Do you have similar experiences when you are out in public? How do your convert those experiences into ministry opportunities?
That’s great! I have a pastor friend in Canada who spends every morning early at Tim Horton’s and has a real ministry to men who are there every day. Coffee shops are great places for doing ministry, something like an external office.
great article thanks
Mike
crosscampusministry.com
Starbucks… the water well of our society! While Jesus spent time in solitude, he spent more time with the people. My wife is going to love hearing me say, “I need to spend more time at Starbucks.” 🙂
Lukewarm, it’s really a combination of both. Sometimes people approach me and sometimes I do the approaching. It’s important to know that I don’t go to places like this to get my deepest study done. I do light reading, praying (usually with my eyes open so I can pray for those around me), responding to emails, etc. This is stuff I have to do every day anyway, and so i often choose to do it in public and wait to see what happens. Every day is not like this, but almost every day I encounter at least some of these experiences.
I would really like to know how you get to meet these people. Are they people you know? Do they or you walk up directly?
Since I go to starbucks quite often I was thinking of ways to connect with people.
Ron,
I really enjoyed this post. I wish I could say that happens to me often. Alas…
Christine, actually I stepped outside for the phone call. I am extremely gifted at multi-tasking and can tune out all activity around me. (My wife would easily agree with that one.) I try to go several mornings each week to some area coffee shop. I’ve found, however, that I’m likely to be interrupted if I’m at my office too, so this allows me to see different people. yes, there are negatives. Sometimes I go to the library. (I know a corner there.) Sometimes I go to quiet places I shall not reveal for fear of being found.
That is cool! All at Starbucks? Can you counsel on the phone and interview members and feel it’s private enough? How often do you work at Starbucks. I can see the value of being out and about in the community – just wondering if there are any negatives.