Last Friday, the "Free Java Friday" (FJF) team was back in action serving coffee and cocoa to the community. (About half of the team is pictured to the left.) The drive-up kiosk was open from 7-9 AM on the CBC main campus, and a walk-up station was located at the main crosswalk for Crosswinds Elementary before school. A quality product, friendly service, and ready smiles - they offer it for free with "no strings attached." Next Friday, teams will be covering the same locations in the morning plus adding "pre-game" coffee and cocoa service in the evening - There will be two FJF kiosks near the entrance to the Collierville High School football game.
But you gotta ask, "What is the point of serving coffee and cocoa FOR FREE to people from the community?" This is not about fund-raising. Although the labor is all volunteer, there are costs for materials. Since no donations are accepted, we are "losing" money on this ministry. It's also not about marketing our ministry. There are no signs for Collierville Bible Church and volunteers are not using this as a way to leverage conversations toward church attendance. (We do give people an info card on the church if they ask, but that's not the goal.)
It IS about demonstrating the love of Christ in a practical way. God's love is not something deserved; it's not something that can be earned. So FJF is about demonstrating in a very practical and basic way what that kind of unmerited love looks like. FJF is also about engaging our community through conversation. Too often, the church becomes isolated and ingrown. We like the fact that something as simple as a free cup of "Raspberry Truffle Cocoa with Whip Cream" can give us an opportunity to chat and get acquainted with our neighbors. We love learning about people, their lives, and the challenges they're facing. We think that this is what Jesus did well and we like the way that FJF allows us to follow in his footsteps and cultivate opportunities to minister beyond the walls of our church.
What an awesome ministry... We have struggled finding a church home here in Starkville since moving here a little over three years ago. And one reason for that is because everyone seems to have an agenda.. either promoting their church, a specific "gotta-have" ministry, or even themselves. And it's disheartening. FJF seems to be a genuine way to do as Jesus did. And I think that's awesome....
Posted by: Danielle Caver | October 23, 2007 at 10:43 AM