Something remarkable is shifting in Columbia, TN and it came out into the open in, of all places, my hometown coffee shop. If you live in Columbia or even relatively near the south suburbs of Nashville, drink coffee, and have half a mind to pay attention, I bet you’ve noticed. I can’t say exactly when the shift happened but there has been an undeniable increase in meetings over the past few years. And not just any meetings—Jesus meetings! It isn’t one church that’s coming together—it’s many churches! Y’all, it’s so obvious, one could easily think that these meetings are being organized or that there’s a coordinated strategy by local congregations to descend on coffee shops, but I assure you, they’re not. These meetings are not church focused, racially focused, culturally focused or politically focused. They’re Jesus focused and it’s stunning. Folks are not picketing together, they’re praying together. They aren’t harming local businesses, but bringing in business to the local community. They’re not polarizing or canceling each other because they disagree, they’re seeking the Kingdom, talking together face to face, and walking out faith in love. They are opening their Bibles right out in the open, not in confrontation, but in genuine love for God and genuine love for each other. Y’all, the Kingdom is here! I can see it now more than I ever have in my lifetime. Something has changed. Something has shifted in the body of Christ in a very definitive way and it’s happening in the most unlikely of places.
It was a cool morning and I had left my church to meet a friend of mine at a little coffee shop called Legacy Coffee Co. I know the owner, Josh. He’s a great guy and knows how to serve great coffee. The morning was average with the familiar sights and sounds of locals enjoying conversation and working on their laptops. My friend and I were steeped in our own conversation when, out of the blue, Josh (the store owner) announced in a loud voice, “I have something to say!” The store ground to an immediate halt, including the baristas behind the counter. I turned around to see Josh standing on top of his chair. He was pointing to a man, sitting across the table from him and he said, in a shaky voice, “This is my friend and he just accepted Christ!” Y’all…the whole room erupted with cheers, clapping, smiles and whistles. All for the Gospel of Christ! It was moving and honestly very surreal. So much so, that when I continued with my meeting, I found myself thinking, did that really just happen? Did someone really stand up in a chair, in my hometown coffee shop, and boldly speak the Gospel of Christ over a friend? And did the entire coffee shop unanimously give applause and praise to God for what He had done in the man’s life?
I finished my meeting and Josh finished his, and afterwards, I told him how amazing it was to see God working in his coffee shop. He shook his head and said with tears rimming his eyes, “That‘s the first person I’ve ever led to Christ.”
How beautiful is that? The Kingdom of God is here!
The harvest of God’s Kingdom can take time, like harvests often do. But every now and again, you get to see a Kingdom harvest in real time. You get to see a deposit of the Spirit returned a 100 fold. Today, I saw it! I caught a glimpse of the power of the Gospel on public display. I got to see the courage of a man bold enough to speak. I saw the joy of a man who was bound, set free—I saw the love of God sweep in and save him, right in front of everyone!
Something has shifted in Columbia, TN! The Kingdom of God is here!
Before I stop writing, there’s one more thing that I think is worth journaling about on the Forge today. You see, I only knew 3 or 4 folks sitting in Josh’s coffee shop that morning. The vast majority of those folks had no idea who I was nor I, them. But here’s the thing: When the Spirit of God moved into that man’s heart, heaven moved in that coffee shop and suddenly we all knew each other! The Kingdom of God was announced, and just like that, complete strangers were family—the family of God! O, I didn’t know their names, but I knew their joy and I recognized them by their love. It’s like God had thinned the veil to give us all a glimpse into another Kingdom!
Friends…family, keep doing what you’re doing in Columbia, TN and abroad. Love, listen, pray and serve. Talk it out face to face. Let the God of love be known wherever you go and speak the Gospel of His Son, unashamed, and watch the power of God unto salvation reveal who your family is
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The Kingdom of God is here!
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