One of the desires that we have for our new space is that it be used as a community meeting place - not as church space where we seek to "attract" people from the community and once attracted we secretly slip them a well hidden gospel pill and woo them over to the light by our fun and entertaining cool hip groovy modern post-modern set up... sorry I digress.Our hope is to have a space that contributes to the good of our city, that serves as a meeting place for our culture, and a place where new relationships can begin.
Today we were granted another H U G E step in that direction. Starbucks has agreed to work with New City Church downtown at the New City Cafe. Starbucks will come in on First Fridays, during the upcoming Cherry Blossom festival, Brag Jam and other events, set up in the New City Cafe and sell their coffee. Our folks will work side by side with the Starbucks folks in taking orders, taking money, and all of the other stuff that goes along with a coffee shop! A portion of the proceeds will come back to the New City Cafe. Starbucks is also saying that they would be more than willing to do more events.
So - we will contribute to the good of our city by bring Starbucks downtown and bringing more people downtown as well as by providing an alternative to bars. We will set up like a coffee shop, providing a place for our community to meet, and for us to serve and meet our community - forming new relationships. Within these new relationships and new coffee conversations, I believe that we will also have many opportunities for Gospel Conversation!
