by Stacey Meyers, Fireside Café manager
When the Fireside Café opened two years ago, our vision was that it would be a welcoming home-away-from-home for our community, and that it would plant seeds for God’s kingdom for people who spend time here. By genuinely caring for every guest, we hope to offer people a small glimpse of the way God loves every person.
It has been so rewarding to see that vision come to fruition since we opened our doors! Here are just two stories of many:
Since last fall, I’ve gotten to know two Café guests who meet here with their children to have a playgroup almost every week. They have been fun to get to know – and it’s been even more fulfilling to see them begin attending our Sept.-May moms’ group, Moms Inc., and connect and grow with Christian moms this winter!
And last month, one of our baristas saw a woman sitting up on the walkway who looked upset and tearful. She took time to sit down and talk with this woman, listen to a little of her story – and then asked if she could pray for her. The woman said yes, and our barista lifted up her situation to the Father in prayer.
These stories, and others like them, are why the Café exists. The amazingly simple concept of a cup of coffee leading to eternal impact is exactly what discipleship means at Fireside Cafe.