I frequent coffee shops~like Peet’s or Starbuck’s~almost as a past time. Coffee shops are community cross roads, after all, where people go for coffee, but for much more. At coffee shops people meet together for business~they talk~they network~they meet new people~and yes, they enjoy a good cup of coffee or some other specialty drink. At coffee shops, America comes together (someone should make that into a bumper sticker). That is why I was very encouraged after a visit to the Mars Hill Coffee House in Hollister, California.
The Mars Hill Coffee House was the brain child of a couple of friends of mine who are pastors in Hollister, California. One of these guys had the idea of opening, not a Christian coffee house per se but rather a coffee house run by Christians~people who follow Jesus~as a service to the community~where people could gather and where good conversation is encouraged, with the hope that in the mix, Jesus and spirituality could be discussed as it once was on Mars Hill in ancient Athens. And so, on Wednesday I drove down to Hollister to visit with one of my friends (who pastors of Hollister Christian Fellowship), and after a simple chinese lunch visited Mars Hill Coffee House. It was the highlight of my day.
As we entered, I was immediately struck by the warmth of the place. The decor invites to hang out. My friend Don, one of the guys who got this going, says the decor is kind of 1950′s bohemian. He and some others designed the interior, all the way down to the paint scheme and floor tiles~and though I’m not up on 1950′s bohemian, I was drawn in to their idea.
On the walls, art from various local artists hang, both for looks and for sale, while good music plays in the back ground. To one side is an area for bands and singers and the like; and there are tables of various heights with chairs as well as couches around coffee tables, all calling people to sit a chat, not to mention free wi-fi and really good coffee. The hope is that, as word spreads, this coffee house will become a gathering place where ideas are traded and people connect with people~and as this happens, connection will be made by many with Jesus who is called Christ.
Having visited Mars Hill (check out their Facebook page), I was impressed in several ways. The atmosphere, the clientele, the coffee, the music, the art are all a draw for me; and the freedom to exchange ideas with others is very refreshing and attractive. But the idea behind this venture is perhaps the greatest attraction. The more I read the gospels and Acts the more I am convinced Jesus followers are called to be out in the highways and byways of life, engaging people, serving people, helping people in the name of Jesus~with or without sharing the gospel. Our master went about doing good, while many of us content ourselves with just going about. Mars Hill Coffee shop was envisioned, planned and launched as a way to go out and do good~to be in the highways and byways~for the sake of the Master~and the good of others.
With all this going for it Mars Hill Coffee House is a great place to be~and is a place I will find my way to, to study, to talk, to network, to serve~in Jesus name. If you are ever in Hollister, make it a point to visit too~and let me know how you liked it.
I’m a ways away in Bay Area, but will look for it sometime. Blessings