It was watching young moms drop off their children at a church-sponsored, community outreach Story Hour program for preschoolers that prompted the very first Coffee Break Bible study for women. As the church's pastor and a woman from his congregation with a passion for sharing Jesus watched the young moms drive away, they asked, "Why not invite them to stay?"
So they did, offering these moms—and other women in their community—coffee, conversation, and a connection to Jesus in a casual, low-key, informal atmosphere. Pastor Al Vander Griend devised the strategy and Neva Evenhouse wrote and led the Bible study lessons. Using a small-group format and a Bible study lesson of questions that presumed no previous Bible study knowledge, Neva (and eventually other leaders as well) guided the women in this newly-formed group to discover for themselves what the Bible said and meant. The women loved it. They grew in their friendships with others and in their relationship with Jesus. Some became believers for the first time. Others recommitted their lives to Christ. Still others invited their friends and family to come and share the joy of discovering Scripture truths in a way that connected to their hearts as well as their minds.
That was almost 35 years ago. Today, Coffee Break continues to thrive. The same small-group, low-key, discover-for-yourself Bible study strategy still works. The focus continues to be on reaching women for Christ and growing them in their faith in Him. Women still love gathering with friends to explore what the Bible has to say about life today. They are amazed at discovering Jesus.
Many women's small groups are available today, but Coffee Break continues to hit the mark for a variety of reasons: The power of prayer, the power of the Word, the power of love, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
The power of prayer. Earnest, fervent prayer is foundational. Coffee Break leaders are encouraged to move no faster than they can go on their knees. They pray together as leaders, pray for their group members, and model for their group members, in a low-key way, what it means to be connected to God through prayer.
The power of the Word. Coffee Break keeps the Word of God central. It is the only thing that endures, and it is how God communicates to us. Believing in God's ability to work through His Word takes pressure off Coffee Break leaders. They simply lovingly guide the women to discover for themselves the truths of the Bible and its relevance for their lives, using an inductive approach and asking questions. There is no high pressure for a personal response. Coffee Break leaders are aware that people need time to test and absorb all that God has to say, and they give the women attending that time. Leaders take both the Great Commission and the Great Commandment very seriously.
The power of love. The Great Commandment—loving God and loving others—is a non-negotiable. Coffee Break leaders grow in their love for God and for one another through leaders meetings, praying for one another, and building strong interpersonal and spiritual relationships. Loving one's neighbor, of course, includes the Great Commission—reaching out to others with Jesus' love. Coffee Break continues to thrive because its target audience is those who don't know Jesus or haven't experienced a vital relationship with Him.
Coffee Break communicates its belief in the power of love in a variety of ways, both through people and a commitment to excellence.
A strong support structure —Dedicated small group representatives personally model the relational emphasis of Coffee Break and are available for phone consultations, support, encouragement, and training. They also conduct hands-on leadership training that prepare potential leaders in both the principles and practical applications of a Coffee Break small group. A Connections newsletter three times each year provides stories, ideas, and inspiration for Coffee Break leaders. The www.coffeebreakministries.org web site provides training information, resources, and other pertinent support for leaders. In addition, a dedicated toll-free number (888-644-0814) is available for those with questions and concerns. Plus, every two years, Coffee Break sponsors an inspirational small-group conference that provides practical workshops, dynamic worship, and motivational messages to encourage leaders in the volunteer servant leadership they provide.
Complementary childcare and preschool programs —One of the best ways Coffee Break serves the women who attend is by providing quality childcare. Infants are cared for by loving nursery workers. Two and three-year-olds learn about Jesus through a play-centered curriculum called Little Lambs. And preschoolers learn about God and his world in Story Hour. Each program has a complete curriculum that is available through Faith Alive Christian Resources (www.FaithAliveResources.org, 1-800-333-8300).
The support of the local church—Though Coffee Break can—and does—thrive in a home setting, most are supported by a sponsoring local church and held in the church building. Coffee Break then receives the credibility and financial support it needs and often becomes a dynamic outreach tool in the community. A Coffee Break small group can also be the non-threatening bridge to introduce a woman to the church.
Excellent resources — Coffee Break's emphasis is on reaching those who may have never studied the Bible before, and has developed a Bible study series called Discover Your Bible that has accompanying leader guides with helpful tips for both developing and guiding the discussion as well as being sensitive to the needs of newcomers to Bible study. The materials use an inductive Q&A approach and many of them go through an entire book of the Bible. Another series, Discover Life, is also inductive but is more topical in nature. The Inspirit/Get Real series is more issues-oriented and entry-level, and could be especially effective in a postmodern setting.
The power of the Holy Spirit—Finally, it is the power of the Holy Spirit to radically change lives that has contributed to the continued growth of Coffee Break. Leaders recognize that the Holy Spirit works according to God's timetable not ours. Coffee Break flourishes because of God, not because of what we do.
If you would like further information on how Coffee Break small-group Bible studies can work in your church or community, please call 1-888-644-0814, contact Marjo Jordan at jordanm@crcna.org or check out our website at www.coffeebreakministries.org. Coffee Break is a ministry of Christian Reformed Home Missions, www.crhm.org.
