Joe and Jesus
I have to be honest. I have never tasted coffee so I do not “have to have it” but I do know people who cannot wake up until they have that cup of coffee, or “joe”, as some people say. I also know people in meetings who constantly refill that cup of coffee! I would be shaking all over! People are serious about their coffee and they will spend lots of money, daily, on coffee! And one thing you may not know is where “joe” came from. “Joe” was slang for coffee in the World War I era. Thankfully, Pine Valley United Methodist Church knows that coffee may get you started but God keeps you going! And they know that if you buy coffee, they will come. This isn’t true only in the Bridge service or Connection Cafe. Joe is bringing young adults to learn about Jesus.
I know people do not like a cup of cold coffee. Most do not drink day old coffee. If you want fresh coffee, you have to throw out the old and start with a new brew. Isaiah told the people of God that they are like the “best wind mixed with water.” They needed to throw out the old. Isaiah 1:22, “Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water.” People also do not want lukewarm coffee, God does not want us lukewarm. Revelation 3:16, “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
PVUMC has a college- age ministry called, AXIS. Axis is “dedicated to being the bridge between youth and starting your own path in adulthood; we are here to grow deeper in our faith, build community, and support each other in Christian fellowship.” So Pastor Tim and Pastor Kim meet on Wednesday nights at Port City Java at UNCW. They usually have 9-14 young adults, not all from UNCW. Some go to other schools and some are not in school but they are college age. Five of the fourteen who currently attend did not grow up at PVUMC. They do prayer requests and often text each other during the week. They have been very vulnerable when they need prayers. They support each other and hold each other accountable. They are finding their community and becoming a part of each other’s lives. They have started bringing friends. From the beginning they have been very welcoming to others.
One night our group was in line and Pastor Kim was waiting in the back to pay for all of the coffee. There were four other customers behind her. Three of our people were late and came and got in line in front of Kim. Kim saw that the people in the back of the line may have felt they were “cut”. So she thanked them for letting their group stay together and said they would like to pay for their coffees also. She explained why they were there and invited them to the Bible study. One of the guys said he had not found a church. One of the girls came to church and then to Bible study! Since then, four of the Axis members did a trunk for trunk-or-treat. A couple attended the ministry fair and signed up for children and youth ministry! Several of the young adults came to the Bridge service and have come to Wednesday night supper!
One of the young men who came to Axis knew about it because of his mother. When Pastor Tim did a revival in Burlington he saw a girl with a UNCW sweatshirt on. He talked with her and her mom and learned the brother was at UNCW. His Mom told him about Pastor Tim and about Axis and he began coming. One of the girls was invited to the 11:15 service by a lady she knew. She started immediately going to Wednesday night Bible study. Another girl delivered flowers, from our flower ministry, to Mark while he was homebound.
Most importantly, these young adults are learning about Jesus. They are making friends who will stand by them. They are learning about genuine friendship. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” They will learn what the Bible says first hand. They will grow in their relationship with Jesus. Isn’t that what our church should be teaching? And if they are not here we should go to them! They are learning that they may need a little bit of coffee but they are going to need a lot of Jesus.
I think it is wonderful that PVUMC makes good friends with good coffee. That is two of life’s great perks!