Podcast July 2009

Additional information associated with the July edition of the Fresh Expressions podcast.

Listen to this episode

Twilight at Costa

For more details please see the Twilight @ Costa story and the information on the cafechurch network below.

cafechurch network

Cafechurch is an initiative started by Rev Cid Latty and members of Christchurch Baptist Welwyn Garden City well over two years ago. 'It all began because of an eagerness to engage with people from our local community who do not go to church,' said Cid Latty. 'We knew we had to find a neutral and comfortable place to develop something new and so we asked our local Costa Coffee if we could meet there. We were amazed when they said yes. We immediately set about designing something new which we called cafechurch.'

What they ran on that first night proved to be so popular that Cid began discussions with a Regional Manager and a few cafechurches were piloted in other stores too. Through the success of this a charitable organisation was formed called the Cafechurch Network to support the growing interest. This organisation later was given the 'OK' to put a Cafechurch in every suitable Costa Coffee in the UK and most recently Gloria Jeams Coffees have offered their stores too.

'The benefit to a local store is that cafechurch helps them to feel part of the local community and to share how they work ethically in the coffee growing regions of the world.' said Cid 'For the church too there are great benefits as people who might not go to church get to interact with people who do as they discuss issues from a faith perspective.'

'We are keen that other churches join the network so that we can help them set up a cafechurch and link them to their local store. If they do not have a high street store nearby we will still provide training to equip them to use another suitable locations.'

You can find more details, find contact details and register your interest online on the cafechurch website.

United Reformed Church

The United Reformed Church is the latest denomination to join the Fresh Expressions initiative. For more information you can read the media release or visit their website.

mission shaped ministry in Belfast

Information on every mission shaped ministry local course centre and details of how to get involved in msm can be found on the mission shaped ministry page.