Lessons on evangelism learned while making coffee

I am writing this while on break at Starbucks… Yes, my iPhone enables me to do crazy things. Last night at High School Bible Study, we discussed the spiritual discipline of evangelism. We talked about how many times we have opportunities in the most familiar of places – school, work, etc- and how many times we don’t take them. I challenged each of the girls with a measurable goal for the week in terms of evangelism. Some said they would look for opportunities to talk about God and/or pray for people. We talked about how many of us struggled with judgemental attitudes that stopped us from evangelism and how many times we forget how much the people around us are hurting and that is why they act the way they do. So some us determined working on our snap judegments would be part of our challenge.

Well, within just a few short hours of the sun being up, those opportunities we discussed came strolling in he front door and up to the counter to assertively order their coffee. I had spent the early morning talking with one of my coworkers about her daughters struggling with her faith and encouraging her. Then a woman, whom I learned is named Jean, started complaining almost as soon she got to the counter. She was upset one of he usual baristas wasn’t working and made a comment referencing the fact that her drink may be so using for “new people” – she was referencing me. I politely informed I was nowhere near new- 6+ years to be exact. She mumbled something to the other bariata at the counter about “me not likin her already”. I realized in that moment my tone must have offended her – oh great, I already have to backpedal and it’s not even 9am. My stupid pride.

I apologized and she proceeded to sit at the bar near me to wait for the next Barista. She struck up conversation with me. Where I came from, why I moved, and so on. I told her I grew up and went to college in South Florida. She asked what I studied in… “great, I was rude and now I have to explain I got a degree in Ministry,” I thought. I explained an almost immediately she blurted out, “can you pray for me?”. My heart smiled and I immediately assured her, “of course, I would be happy to!”. She continued to explain that she had lost her husband to sickness only 5 weeks prior. She talked about how she needed stronger faith and how she would appreciate the prayer.

During that time another set of customers walked in and ordered their “usual”. I heard one of the women murmur to the other that she didn’t want to go to the other end of the counter because the woman, Jean, was usually very mean. It registered with me that this new customer had no idea the pain Jean was in and why she may have been rude lately. I thought they would avoid each other but the new customers went to join in the conversation with Jean. In just a moment they were discussing their similar grief and mourning.

I realized in just a matter of a half hour how often God opens opportunities to share the Gospel and encourage other believers, who may even be strangers. I saw the kindness of a woman who decided to move past her judgments and invest in a stranger. I realized just how far I have to go in evangelizing. Praise God for low pay and coffee!