Coffee Evangelism

The mission model has changed, and that fact is no more evident than in a place like the Balkans. Traditional church-planting, crusades, or screenings of The Jesus Film are no longer effective or welcome in many places around the world. While these methods had their time and place, the truth is that the Kingdom of God has never been about planting a church.

It has been about planting a seed. About watering it. About tending it. About harvesting from it.

It has been about relationships with people, the passion of God\’s heart.

One morning in Albania, we asked Pali about his latest step of faith involving moving to a city in Macedonia known for its Orthodox seminaries and strong religious spirit. Simply put, a city closed to the life-changing work of the Gospel. His plan for reaching the city is simple: coffee.

Espresso, usually, or cappuccino. Sometimes even Turkish.

In their culture, even more so than ours, relationships are begun in cafés over coffee. There are norms and mores for when and where and who pays; a beautiful social ritual indicative of the region\’s culture of hospitality and friendliness.

Pali\’s goal is relationship-building. When you know a person\’s heart, his passions, concerns, needs, hopes, then you can begin to share your own hope – the hope that is an anchor for your soul.

The process is slow, but it allows the roots of a young believer\’s faith to grow deep and produce an abundant harvest. It is the way Jesus discipled: finding a few, loving and training them, then releasing them.

Jason and I have been challenged as missionaries to put the Kingdom first. For us, this often means remembering that people matter most – not buildings or ministries or platforms – people.

We are challenged to create ripples rather than chase waves. Jesus emphasized the value of the Kingdom over and over again. Anything of value is not come by easily.