Level Ground

Imagine this: The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the smell of some of New York City's finest pastries fills the air. The smiles and laughter of friends old and new bounce off of the walls. Sunlight streams through the windows of a cozy Williamsburg loft, transformed into a vibrant coffee shop for the day.

This was our dream come true – gathering people together at our very first coffee shop pop-up in NYC!

Our incredible friends opened their home in Brooklyn to us, allowing us to create a genuine coffee shop experience with unbelievable coffee and pastries. Igor and Nic, our talented baristas, expertly crafted each cup, their smiles reflecting the joy of serving others. We were so grateful to get to partner with a couple of NYC's best coffee shops and bakeries, La Cabra and ALF Bakery.

But this wasn't just about exquisite coffee and pastries...

We invited those who might not feel comfortable stepping foot in a church – people we've been meeting as we've walked the streets of NYC – and our dear friends from church. We aimed to create a space where authentic connection could blossom, where walls could be broken and bridges could be built.

And the response? Overwhelming.

• "We're so grateful you're doing this. This city desperately needs places like this, where people can feel welcome and accepted."

• "Can I bring my friend Sarah? She'd love this!"

• "When can we do this again? We're already planning who to invite!"

• "We have a rooftop terrace in our building! Could we host the next one there?"

These words echoed throughout the day, a testament to the deep need for community and belonging. We were uncertain whether this would be an effective method for outreach in New York City, and we were delighted to discover that it worked so well! Talk about proof of concept.

Witnessing the body of Christ extend love and hospitality to those outside the walls of the church was truly heartwarming.

We were also shocked to find out that pulling off our first one ended up opening multiple doors for future pop-ups in spaces we never imagined we'd be invited into.