OUR HISTORY:

Java Journey, a non-profit coffee shop in Hickory, North Carolina, is the brain-child of Teena Stewart and Jeff Stewart. Beginning in 2005, while living on the west coast, Teena and Jeff began noticing the growing trend of coffee shops. The trend seemed to be moving eastward. People from a variety of cultures and age groups love to make a coffee shop a part of their day, whether hanging out with friends, or just passing through to grab a savory hot beverage.

An idea started brewing. What if this type of relaxed environment could be used to connect with unchurched and hurting people? A critical element of sharing the greatest message of all is being able to have uninhibited rapport. A large population of people will never set foot in a conventianal church no matter how hard others may try to get them there. The coffee shop environment is ideal for connecting and potentially reaching people of diverse cultural backgrounds.

After much prayer and soul searching the Stewarts felt lead to leave their secure ministry positions to move toward this new type of ministry.

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