MAY 2008 NEWSLETTER:
WELCOME TO OUR KITCHEN!

Why would a church have a café? How does that fit with the mission of the church? Our mission at ABC is very simple – Life Transformation. Life transformation takes place when people connect with God and connect with God’s people. We know that people need both of these connections for their lives to be changed. Our goal at ABC is to create a hospitable environment that draws people into those two vital relationships.

When we launched our “Build Them Up” campaign we had several objectives: 1) Build a Student Center 2) Address our parking crisis 3) Create a more hospitable environment for our ever-growing congregation. In our planning, we believed that an enlarged courtyard and café could become the centerpiece and heart of our campus for hospitality.

When it comes to hospitality, think of your own home. In our first home in Atascadero we had a normal sized enclosed kitchen with an island in the center. Having people over to our house on a regular basis made me realize something that I have never forgotten. As people felt more comfortable in our home, they always ended up in the kitchen. I remember one time counting over 20 people standing in our kitchen and not one person was in our living room. On that day I said to myself, “If I ever build a house again, I am going to have a big, wide open kitchen.” There is something about being in the kitchen, with a cup of coffee and something to eat, that just feels good. When we launched our latest campus expansion, I wanted people who came to our church to feel like they were coming to our home and I want people at my home to feel welcome!

So, how does a big church create a “homey” feel? Well, I think you need a big wide open kitchen. The ABC café and courtyard is the “Kitchen” of our church home and the place where you can make connections. I can’t tell you how good it makes me feel to see hundreds of people gathering before and after church in our kitchen, making new friends and just hanging around talking. It tells me that people are making vital connections.

Just a side note, it was never our intention to have the café be a “money making” venture. Our church is supported by the sacrifice and generosity of our people. Our goal in running the café is simple: to break even, which we hope to be able to do in the near future. Your support of the café
will help us to achieve that goal. It is open all week long and is a great place to come to meet with your friends. Why not take someone out for a cup of coffee and invite them to the “kitchen” of ABC?

Pastor Tom