The Coffeehouse Initiative Building an incarnational churchplant team

The Coffeehouse Initiative Building an incarnational church-plant team of MVNU graduates, based on each’s skills and potential roles. -I’m here to talk to you about the Coffeehouse Initiative.

The Coffeeshop Initiative Sending out a team of MVNU seniors after they graduate to work in a coffee shop ministry setting Graduates Church/ District

The Coffeeshop Initiative Goal: reaching multicultural populations for an established church, and perhaps building incarnational relationships and subsequent small group churches/ministri es. Graduates Church/ District

Church/District Provide • Low cost/no cost housing near a site in a subsidized apartment • Networking to jobs in relevant fields to recent grads, through district members • Mentorship- beginning senior year at MVNU • Opportunity: incarnational ministry in coffee shop. Build relationships with regulars, beginning small groups and/or inviting customers to church • Opportunity for graduate study w/ subsidized housing

MVNU Grads Provide. Labor in coffee shop Outreach to community through coffee shop Business leadership for coffee shop Church attendance and increased awareness Living ministry to neighbors in subsidized housing complex • Unique skill sets to reach community members • Fill church ministry roles (worship lead, technology, etc. ) • • •

Candidates Sought • Seeking: • Varied majors, (ministry, social work, Intercultural studies, business, education, technology, etc. ) • In the same/close graduating class; • Who: • Know one another • Are missionally-minded • Desire to learn and serve, • Have a passion for urban/diverse population ministry Possibility: Incorporate 3 traits of DCPI church planters into a team instead: Entrepreneur (business major? ), evangelist (ministry major), leader (another major, such as ICS? )

Target Population • Reach into alternative demographics of the area (those disillusioned with the Church, alienated by language barriers (esp. Spanish-speakers), etc. ) Ultimate methodology: build relationships over time to establish genuine connection, then bringing in the Gospel at the right time. Form small groups to continue spiritual education

Method • Begin conversations, viewing the MVNU as Mother church partnering with an established church in a district • Develop relationships with professors/school officials to select best candidates • Begin plugging students into areas within the ministry and mother church they are best suited to fill • When grads move on, marry, etc. they transplant method to their new context • Then, project can source new grads from the University to fill gaps/start again