West Bank Tea Room

Ok, I’m having a massive brain attack.  At the risk of sounding Charismatic (I guess I’d call myself a "soft" Charismatic), I’ve been having this really wierd spider-sense lately.  We’ve been having some communications issues at Missio Dei.  Nothing horrible, but it has clearly been that special phase in a new group’s life where it struggles and stretches in its quest to define itself. :)  Usually, a shift or an intensification happens after that (or the thing dies).  Besides just knowing that something should happen in this stage in our development, I’ve really been discerning, at a gutteral level, that a big step is coming.  I’ve felt a sense of excited anxiety that we need to move past this stage, and that God is going to do something really cool, but something really costly.

And so, this spidey sense that God has something in store around the bend has been really heavy. 

Today, I met with my friend Shane Long.  He really affirms what Missio Dei is trying to do.  I shared my hopes and frustrations (which are usually tied up with one another).  One of my frustrations has been how much harder it is to establish presence in a place than I expected.  It is difficult to find housing on the West Bank, and we haven’t been able to find a place on the West Bank to do our central gathering.  Having people simply hang out there can be a good thing, but we are few and just hanging out has limited impact.  Usually I love a challenge, but this is a rather big one.  And unfortunately, I’ve taken it out of my brothers and sisters at Missio Dei on occasion.  Something much more drastic needs to happen if we’re going to serve the West Bank and Seward. 

So I shared some of this stuff with Shane.  As we spoke, an idea popped into his head.  He said, "this is probably too far out there, but maybe you could start a Tea shop.  You can really meet alot of internationals and students that way" (or something like that). 

When he said that, something in my head, snapped.  His idea hung there, midair…it was the solution I’ve been searching for…a place to meet on the West Bank, a way of connecting with diverse people…a way for me to be bivocational in ministry…it not only appealed to my intellect, but resonated deep in my heart. I don’t presume that "God told me to open a tea house." But this seems to resonate with my soul and fill me with excitement.  If I find a large enough space (there is a multiple-level space available for lease that would be ideal for a tea room, and ample space for groups and concerts).  It would simply be a great way to make connections with people and a great place for Missio Dei to use for various activities.  And hopefully it would also be something that can fund ministry projects and whatnot in the future.

I’m realistic.  This idea would take alot to get off the ground.  I’m not wealthy, but would be willing to expend a good deal of my income to make it happen.  But I’ll need to get a small business loan, and I’ll need to find one or more partners.  Ideally, I’d like to find a partner who has experience in the tea or coffee industry and knows how to run things.  I need people who are cool with the West Bank Tea Room having strong ties with a church.  And they’d need to throw some money into the pot to have a start-up fund.  I think things would take a little while before things get profitable. 

Spead the word…anyone want to help start West Bank Tea Room?

for further reading . . .

• None Found