A big fire always presents dramatic loss; thankfully, no fatalities or serious injuries were involved in this one. For many of us, though, the sadness brought on by this fire is close and personal. The Green Bean Coffee House has been a familiar ministry meeting place for many, including several Emmaus Road people. David Anema and Eric Likkel met there the day before, planning community development steps and discussing ministry issues. The Green Bean had become a thriving non-profit outreach, launched and nurtured by our sister Christian Reformed congregation in Greenwood, Sanctuary Church. People we know and love have poured their lives into this neighborhood through the hospitality and generosity shared there.
The Taproot Theater building, where the congregation worships next door to the Greenbean, was also severely damaged, causing Sanctuary to become temporarily "homeless." But according to Dr. Randy Rowland, CEO of the Green Bean Coffee House and pastor of Sanctuary, “A church and a community development organization are about people, not about buildings. The people are unharmed and we remain resolute in our vision and mission in Greenwood. We are here to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. None of that will change. We will carry on beginning today.”
Pray for all involved, including the families who lost their businesses and livelihoods along with the Green Bean.
Websites will be updated regularly with relevant information.
www.sanctuarycrc.org
www.greenbeancoffee.org
In the winter of 1997, we began as a small team of about 10 people, committed to gathering and growing a church that would connect with others like ourselves; people interested in connecting with God, in the person and work of Jesus Christ, but disconnected from the activity of many mainstream congregations. With the financial support of a larger church organization, our pastor was able to work full time with the team in planning, leadership development, and meeting people in the community.
Inspired by the journey process as a metaphor for spiritual growth, we searched for a name which would reflect that idea. In the resurrection narrative of Luke 24, we found our name "on the road to Emmaus."
As a community, our mission is to change: from secular people into sacred, from pagans into followers of Christ, from selfish people into caring individuals, reaching out to others with the grace of God.
1 comments:
Eric - we're praying for those hit hard by this fire. My family are friends with the owners of Pho Tic Tac, a Vietnamese restaurant that was one of the three to be burned. Pray for Luann and Tan, the owners, as they determine what to do next. About a year ago they started a second store over on Aurora (approximately 125th and Aurora I believe, although I haven't been to it yet). Pray for them too.
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