Visit the ROC and Share a Cup

When the new lettering was installed identifying The ROC, I was reminded that it was just a short time ago that the Paul Royal Recreation and Outreach Center was a dream. Now it is a reality.

As the vision for the ROC came together, we imagined it to be a center for recreation, a meeting place for our students, and a gathering space where church and community would come together. The café area at the ROC was designed as a Wi-Fi hot spot for internet access and a social and spiritual hot spot for building relationships and conversing about life and faith.

To help facilitate the dream of a meeting place and gathering space, we strategically placed a coffee shop called First Cup. As we were learning the do’s and don’ts of running a coffee shop, we eventually decided to partner with The Drowsy Poet, a respected mission-oriented coffee shop on Brent Lane. The Drowsy Poet purchases coffee beans directly from mission partners in Central America, roasts the beans in Pensacola, and reinvests a portion of the proceeds of all coffee products back to the mission field. This partnership enabled us to provide a fresher product, develop a creative missions connection, and broaden our visibility in the community. In other words, when you purchase a cup of coffee at First Cup, you can enjoy a good cup of java and support missions at the same time.

Several months ago I read Three Cups of Tea, the best-selling, soul-stirring book about the humanitarian work of Greg Mortenson. The title of the book is based on the hospitality customs related to business transactions in some parts of the Middle East. Haji Ali, a village chief in the Karakoram Mountains of Pakistan says that, “We drink three cups of tea to do business; the first you are a stranger, the second you become a friend, and the third, you join our family, and for our family we are prepared to do anything—even die.”

What can I do to maximize the ministry of the ROC?

• Keep making regular contributions to The ROC until we get the facility paid in full.
• Make sure your students are involved in Sunday morning Bible study, Flood, Overflow, AWANA, and UPWARD sports at The ROC.
• Get involved in Women’s Bible Study at The ROC.
• Join Body Recall
• Meet a friend or neighbor at First Cup for your next cup of coffee.
• Plan a meeting of your small group or business at The ROC.
• Commit to bring a new acquaintance for three cups at First Cup as you prepare them to join our family.

I look forward to seeing you this week at The ROC and on Sunday as we gather for worship and Bible study.