Krakow, Poland – A new Nazarene coffee shop ministry will open in Krakow in time for Christmas. Called “Sweet Surrender,” the shop is the third location for the ministry that aims to foster relationships in the community through sharing the Gospel.

The success of the first two locations, including a recent large-scale worship service hosted by the Poznan shop, bodes well for the ministry at the upcoming coffee house.

Missionaries Everett and Rhonda Tustin, and their team, are currently hard at work on the construction of the Krakow shop, as well as finishing the interior. Many Mission Corps volunteers and Work & Witness teams have assisted with the Krakow project.

The coffee shop will be located in an old, renovated flour mill, just a few steps away from Schindler’s ammunition factory (owned by Oskar Schindler, who during World War II used the factory to save more than 1,000 Jewish people). Developers from London have turned the mill into a retail shopping center with hotel and apartment space on upper levels, according to Philip McAlister, Northern Europe Field strategy coordinator.

The Gdansk and Poznan locations have continued to attract positive attention, from broadcast news reports to rave newspaper reviews.

“When these business men saw the quality of the restaurant [Sweet Surrender], they said, ‘This is the restaurant we want and it’s going to be the only restaurant in the property,’” McAlister said. Sweet Surrender is “given first opportunity to cater for any event that any of the other tenants [host]. It’s all written into their contract. They can’t go anywhere else, they have to come to us first.”

But Sweet Surrender is much more than a coffee shop. It provides a new way of ministry in a time and cultural environment where people are less likely to attend a traditional church. The coffee shop is the church’s non-threatening entry point into the community.

“Developing coffee shop ministry allows the community to experience the church in a different form, something outside what they have seen in the past,” said Everett, general manager.

Since most churches are empty for six days a week, having a coffee shop is a good use of the space and allows the church to have a form of income to pay pastors and people involved in ministry, Rhonda added.

The Poznan Sweet Surrender shop has been holding Saturday evening worship services since before it opened, almost 18 months ago, averaging 12-20 attendees. This is the maximum the room can comfortably hold.

Two people in this group have accepted Christ, and several have experienced the Holy Spirit in amazing ways. Each of the young people who attend the service are witnessing to family members.

“We have had the chance to pray with our neighbors and to share Christ with so many who are in need,” said Everett.

Since the district does not have a budget to develop outreach ministries through the shops, sales proceeds allow the ministry team to creatively reach out to the neighborhood in fresh ways.

For example, on 25 September, Sweet Surrender in Poznan was able to financially support its first off-campus, large-scale worship service. About 130 people attended the two-hour service. Attendees were shop customers and Facebook followers.

“This is very exciting to have had such a great response the first time out,” said Rhonda. “We advertised the event as a worship service and so the response was surprising.”

Promoted as "Learning to Live Your Life for an Audience of One," the event was held in a local theater. A gospel band, “Regeneration,” and Brian Fentress, a young gospel artist who has been attending the Poznan church for a year, provided the music.

Fentress is a young American well known in Poland for his gospel music workshops in which he teaches young Polish people to sing gospel music. In the process, he shares his faith. Up to 1,000 young people attend each of his workshops.

Fentress has been asked to lead music at many churches but he chose the Poznan church because he felt loved and accepted there, Rhonda said.

After the service, they served some sweets and drinks from Sweet Surrender and people stayed for a long time afterward to fellowship.

“There was a tremendous response to the Holy Spirit that night,” said Everett. “We know of several who gave their hearts to Christ that night. The result was a powerful, moving worship experience.”

The Poznan ministry team is conducting follow-up based on personal relationships. They handed out the shop’s contact information to attendees, and provided an opportunity to talk with a team member. The team emphasized that they are available anytime for spiritual discussions.

“I was able to talk with one young woman who attended that service, who just happened to be having coffee at the shop,” said Rhonda. “She reminded me of Everett’s words and said what a powerful impact they had on her. The response has been overwhelming and there is a definite hungering for these types of services.”

A second service is scheduled for January 22. They will again use the coffee shop proceeds to finance the theater rental and sound equipment. Regeneration and Brian Fentress will again lead worship.

Plans are underway to host the event monthly in Poznan, and they expect to host a similar style service in Krakow. 

 

 

{loadposition user2}