For many years the Montgomery Presbyterian Church has had a clothing closet open on Tuesday mornings.  The clothing is free, and the closet is staffed by volunteers from various church women’s groups.  One volunteer complained, “The very same people come back week after week.  I don’t think they need anything.  It’s just social.” 

WOW!  What a ministry opportunity!  So I emailed a challenge to all the mission teams that would be staying in the Montgomery location this summer.  I told them the story of the clothing closet. I asked them to imagine what a coffee shop ministry might look like — and create it.

Three to five volunteers would stay back from their work team on Tuesday morning to help set up and serve, and then would return to their work group that afternoon.  I gave no other instruction.

The mission team from Bloomington, Indiana, was the first team out of the gate to give it a try.  We whittled down to five some folks who were absolutely pumped about the coffee shop. One had just completed her first year at Sullivan, a culinary school in Louisville, Kentucky. She brought all the tools of her trade and wanted to make pastries.  I almost suggested this was a high bar to set for subsequent groups, but then who am I to tell her the perfume was too extravagant?  As if that wasn't a high enough bar, the group turned their noses up at the coffee mugs I had purchased, and pulled out THE GOOD CHINA! (I inwardly cringed at the thought of the wrath of the kitchen women, but again, there was Jesus and the perfume story ...)

The very first morning, there was a couple whose home had burned, and they needed crisis and pastoral care, keeping me away from the set up.  (I promised God I wouldn’t micro-manage; I guess God wanted to make sure).  I waved the group on to do what ever they wanted.  They busily set up tables, bright colored (real) table cloths and tea candles, and they even put real cream and sugar on each table.  They had music in the background.  The children's table was set with Play Doh, coloring books and crayons and a sketch pad for drawing. 

As I helped the crisis family, a mom, dad, and 11 year old who had been living in their van since Sunday, get set up for showers and to do their laundry until they could get into their apartment, the youth went into the clothing closet and invited people in.  Picture them with their aprons on, serving coffee in fine cups and amazing pastries on china plates!  When I returned I was thrilled to see that there was hardly an empty seat in the room! 

One man read a magazine while he sipped his coffee at his table; several women waved their friends over to their table, and many were opening their bags to show what they had found.  One little boy ran up to me to show me his new shirt.  One young mom brought in her three small boys, and one of the helpers kept them busy while she found needed clothing. 

Two women waved me over to say thank you and ask if this would continue.  I told them it would at least through the second week in August when the groups stopped for the summer.  They both said they would volunteer to help us keep it running — why didn't I know that this was where so many of them met each Tuesday just to catch up? If it were not for the clothing closet they wouldn't know what had happened to each other the past week. 

I heard many, many thank you’s from folks grateful for the hospitality.  One woman stood at the door looking in and said, "Wow.  This just looks so…hopeful!" (Now THAT took my breath away!)

In their excitement, the volunteers asked, "ARE you going to keep doing this after the mission groups stop?"  And I said, "Me? I am not doing anything.  But I have a feeling God is doing amazing things!"  They all laughed the kind of laughter we laugh when God exceeds expectations in ways we never dreamed.  

God continues to do amazing things.  Each week about 40 or so people filter into the coffee hall.  Some are regulars now, some drift in for the first time.  The regulars love to meet the volunteers and talk to them, listen to their different accents, get energized by their youth.  Father John from the Catholic Church preferred a coffee mug to a china cup when he came to visit before a ministerial association meeting.  But he said he was struck by the dignity it gave others to share our best in hospitality.  Indeed, I find that very ... hopeful.

Read the December 2008 update on this story.