The Firm Foundations Project // The Is To Come.

​The Firm Foundations Project was a heart check. After stewarding and maintaining the logistical side of The Meeting Place Cafe, we were able to set it on autopilot and bring ministry into the lab for work. By prioritising what we believe in and value, we became equipped to go where we needed to grow next. Then we built structures around those things to keep them steady and on point.

Innovation is striking business in fresh new ways for young entrepreneurs like us. 

Business is not what is made or produced, so much as about the “why" behind its existence. As a business, one must be open and in position for lightning to strike - if we also want to call what we do a ministry as well. Yet, this must flow in a way that the impact is clear, and not disrupting. Our “why” must be from relationship, for relationship as well as being both practical and effective in what we do, and with what we give to.

“In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognised by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse. 
This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No—but at least we don’t take God’s Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ’s presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.”
2 Corinthians 2:15-16 (MSG)

“... And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8b (NIV)

​Our goal, as a cafe, is to work from a place where we constantly utilise our relationship with the Lord in a very natural way - so that what is applied to the world is practical and not destructive.

​As a pictorial example; lightning rods are conductors. They are constructed from a hollow tube with a copper wire running up their core. Their job is to take lightning and divert it into the ground safely. 

There is a carefully planned framework for every house that is built, so why should our ministry not have the same? Psalm 16: 5-6 says, "The Lord is my chosen and assigned portion, my cup, you had and maintain my lot. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good heritage.” This verse puts what we do in its rightful perspective. The people who come are those the Lord brings.  The people that serve, the same. With whatever we choose to do our values remain being open, and taking that current into practical usefulness.

There is a difference between sweet and good.

​Sweetness comes from the doing of good because you understand the heart behind it and your love for the person asking you compels you. It’s easy like breathing, and thoughtful like giving a christmas gift that is just right: this is sweetness. It's cost is time and energy but it is easy to pay and gives joy to your life. The moment we do good because it is the right thing to do, we haven’t the heart for it, what compels us is not relationship but rules, and it changes the “sweetness" of the giver’s intentions into a “request for service”. This is another perimeter we’ve set within ourselves for as a team for ministry and service.

The result of the firm foundations project was to position our business, and our lives in the way that lightning could strike through the ministry we create. There is more to come still, no doubt! For now, here is where we are heading: 

•  One Saturday a month-people can come in and get prayed for, have a dream interpreted, and walk away with a picture or word they can claim. We’ll send out invitations through social media. All prayer will take place in the small meeting room so it’s personal, and not corporate. We want people to feel invited to participate without it disturbing the flow of those who have come in just to sit in the corner and read a book.
• Coffee & Art Night: Once a month, the aim being to get creative and learn new techniques with people who just simply love coffee and art. It’s a great way to meet people and feel encouraged!
• Items For Sale: Created by international artists we know and love. Profits go to help them continue in the ministry work they do all while supporting the creative culture we love harbouring.
• “The Blue Door Project”: Our goal is to increase transparency with what we do with our gold coin donations. Along with being the influx we need as a cafe to keep running, basically we decide to donate to business ventures, like ours, looking to make a difference in the world through creative means. We have our ear to the ground to support these ideas because we believe that where we sew, even just financially, we reap. Within The Blue Door Project we will spotlight different businesses and projects through social media, as well as feature a display in the cafe of what they have done.

This has been a look at some sneak peaks of the framework we are setting up to play in the context of this cafe. Come join us in celebrating our new look, and these changes in the way our day to day stories play out.

Our challenge for you today is: think about where you would like lightning to strike in your life, and start building the framework to see it happen. 

What We're Listening To: May 01 (late afternoon) by Love Your Neighbour
What We're Drinking: Tuscan Fog (New!)

Written By: Kalli Hendrickson