This coffee house is run by volunteer labor from a local church. It sits between a bar and a strip club. Inside it looks like any other coffee house. No scripture plaques, light, jazzy music playing, art reflecting the local area. I asked the guy who runs it how they steer conversations to spiritual topics. His answer was both simple and profound. He said that they begin by listening. Many who come into their shop have messed up lives. Some of the dancers from the club come in. The bar next door sometimes sends them guys who need to sober up a little. They respond well to someone who will just listen. Sometimes 30 minutes, sometimes an hour is necessary for them to get it all said. The coffee house workers don't respond much except in ways that let the person know they are listening. And here is the key part. The manager said that after listening to someone share their story, you have earned the privilege of telling your story. And after you have listened, the other person feels that you do care about them and they are okay with listening to you. When you share how your relationship with Christ has changed your life, it seems much more pertinent to their situation than if you just started with a boilerplate introduction.
More tomorrow.
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