The particular one I was involved in resembled more of an inner city mission that served coffee and conversation.

But I got and gave far more ministry at the secular Coffeehouse/Restaurant down the street after the Mission.

Though it wasn't as consistent as I hoped it would be, the Local White Spot that we gathered at later on proved to be more beneficial for all, including those within earshot, than the 'official ministry' earlier in the evenings.

In fact the occassional Saturday Night get togethers until late became a replacement for church for some of us.

I got more from these gatherings than I did at our local fellowship.

Some of my best times were spent while gathered round the table sipping coffee or whatever and discussing all kinds of things with folks. Sometimes we would be discussing and having healthy debates for hours. It helped us define what we really thought about things while at the same time witnessing to those nearby.

Whether it was around the table at home or at a local coffeehouse, we always had something to talk about with those willing to break bread with us.

The subjects ranged from the Hypostatic Union to what's better, chocolate or cherry pie?

At church all the work was given to a few elite types and cliques were abundant. This is why I wrote some things on that at:

https://cuf5.tripod.com/id140.html

And

https://cuf5.tripod.com/id21.html

However, at our table everyone has something to say.

It seemed to us that this kind of interaction should never cease. Whether we are at the local coffeehouse, at home or in cyberspace we look forward to talking with people.

I have had a lot of involvement with coffeehouses. Shortly after becoming a Christian over twenty eight years ago, I went with a bro to a Coffeehouse in Ocean View, Virginia. This coffeehouse was called the Fire Escape. There was something radically different about this coffeehouse. The message and the methods were as different as night and day from other nightclubs and coffeehouses.

The band was playing rock and roll but the words were about JC. Well, I was accustomed to Christian music being boring and slow. This changed my view of Christian Music forever. When being honourably discharged from the Navy I got involved in one way or another in Christian Coffehouses. One such coffeehouse was called Jesus on Main Street which later moved and changed it's name to City Lights. Most of that time I ran Saturday Nights. We would have bands, talk one on one, every great once in a while groups of people came in, food for the needy and even preachers coming in to say a word or two. Still, this coffeehouse resembled a mission more than it did the first Christian Coffeehouse I went to.

Other coffeehouses that I have been to are Noah's Ark and Daniels Den.

Still, the best times we had were at the local White Spot. We would talk for hours with friends and even a few strangers who would overhear our conversations.

Even got together with some Jewish Christians and the singer of 'Lamb' at a local coffeehouse in Virginia.

Well, my wife and I wondered if there was any reasons we shouldn't have what we had in the last situation. We couldn't think of any.

Having experimented with this idea, I have found out that in the suburbs these kind of gatherings are hard to arrange.

People today seem to have their own agendas.

This idea may work better after church on Sundays.

My next step is to just go to the local Coffeehouse/Restaurant with my wife and converse with her.

My wife knows how to keep a conversation going.

Then instead of us trying to get people to gather there, just work with what we got with the people that are already there.

I know this takes some courage and incentive but that is our next step.

Whatever form the coffeehouse takes that we break bread and sip coffee in takes, we know that the important thing is the Lord and the people that the Lord sends our way.

I have learned over the years what makes for good Christian Fellowship around the table.

Bj Maxwell

10/12/2006