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Their Cup Runneth Over: Couple Puts Faith in Christian Coffee Shop

Posted on: Saturday, 10 June 2006, 09:00 CDT

By The Herald, Rock Hill, S.C.

Jun. 10--For Tim and JoAnne Fowler, opening a coffee shop has been a dream come true.

They opened Grounds of Faith, a Christian coffee shop, in February in the Midway Plaza along Cherry Road in Rock Hill.

The business sells coffee, blended ice drinks and smoothies as well as breakfast foods, sandwiches and desserts.

Hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 7 a.m. to midnight Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. to noon Sundays. For information, call 324-8457 or visit www.groundsoffaith.com.

Here's what the owners said:

Q. How has running a coffee house been so far?

A. JoAnne: Rock Hill has been really receptive. People call me and say how excited they are to see a Christian coffee shop in Rock Hill.

Q. Who are your customers?

A. JoAnne: We like to say that we are Rock Hill's neighborhood coffee house. On Friday nights, we bring in local bands, so they bring their friends.

Tim: We cater to a lot of the local businesses, especially during lunch hour. In the evenings, it ranges from kids who get out of school across the street to college kids and families who come in to get something cold to drink on a hot day or in the winter day, something hot on a cold day.

Q. How is the coffeehouse connected to the church next door?

A. Tim: I'm pastor of the church called The Body, which is designed to reach people who don't like church. There are so many people who have been to traditional church who don't care for the formalities. We're informal, but biblically based. The coffee shop is a great complement, even though it's not linked to the church. We broadcast the worship service in here on Sunday mornings.

Q. What if people aren't religious?

A. Tim: We are a Christian coffee house, but we're certainly not a place where only Christians can come. Anybody can feel welcome in here.

Q. What kind of environment have you created?

A. JoAnne: We always say it's not just about the coffee, it's about the atmosphere. We wanted it to be like going into someone's home. We tried to make it very casual. Maybe you don't have time to have someone come to your house and sip on tea, lemonade or coffee, but you can come here, kick your shoes off, sit around and be comfortable, and enjoy good conversation with your friends and family.

Q. When did you start giving sign-language lessons?

A. Tim: About two years ago, our church started a deaf ministry, and part of that was teaching our congregation sign language. It became so popular that the word got out that we taught, and people brought their friends. On Tuesday nights, we have free sign language classes (at the coffee shop). We have a beginning class where you learn the basic signs, and we have an intermediate class where you learn conversation. On the first Tuesday of every month, we have what we call Deaf Cafe. We have between 10 and 25 deaf people come in. Our students get a chance to interact with them, which is the best way to learn.

Q. How do you cater to the deaf?

A. JoAnne: We take their orders in sign. When the deaf go out to a restaurant, they have to point on a menu what they want. It's really a great environment for them here.

Q. How much coffee do you drink?

A. JoAnne: I drink it all day.

Tim: It's good that coffee is free for employees.

JoAnne: As soon as the first pot is brewed, I start, and I take the last cup before it's emptied for the night. It's hot coffee all day. I've probably saved money by opening a coffee shop.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Herald, Rock Hill, S.C.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Herald

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