Yet this is God's direction  - and God's style.  While he still had reservations, (and not a little confusion) Peter obeyed and, as a result, Cornelius and his entire houehold came to know Jesus.  Of course, Peter was criticized at first by other Christians for having broken one of the "rules".  But when he explained the results of this apparent breach of protocol, the Christian community accepted it as yet another way God had chosen to operate.  They celebrated that more people (even people they didn't previously know or even like) had found Jesus and chosen to follow Him as they had.

This story mirrors the time I spend each week in local coffee shops.  I realized that people interested in Jesus (which I believe is everyone!) may or may not come to our church services.  Even less will to they come to the church office to pay the pastor an impromtu visit.  I have also discovered that even church members rarely drop by the office and if they want time with a pastor, they will call and make arrangements to do so.

I decided to make better and more accessible use of my pastoral time by spending it where people are - in this case, the local coffee shops.  It allows me to incarnationally represent both Jesus and our church more directly in places that people frequent and where they tend to be more comfortable.  The results speak for themselves.

In the last year, I have encountered people both spontaneously and purposefully.  Some will happen to come by simply to get some coffee and, lo and behold, there I am.  greetings and conversations ensue.  While some people (members and non-members) will stop by during one of my publicaly shceduled time blocks just to chat, otheres arranfe to me with me at specific times.  As far as our church membership is concerned, I've met with both men and women, church council members and church committee members, old people and young people, church staff and church congregants, traditional worshipers and contemporary worshiprs, parents with their  children in tow and parents who want some time away from the kids.

I have talked with people who have wandered from their faith and in some cases, from church altogether.  These random encounters happen because I put myself in position to allow them to happen.  I have met with representatives of philanthropic organizations seeking to enlist our support and with couples as they prepare their wedding arrangements.

And when there are no people with whom to spend some time, I use my computer to study, read, write, plan and prepare for the various teaching events and programs that are mine to do at First Protestant Church.

Being with people is what ministers do.  The two specific responsibilities of my ministry description are evangelism and discipleship.  I am able to perform these ministerial callings far better in the community than in the office.  I still arrange to meet people in the office and I fulfill obligations there that I cannot do elsewhere.  But truth be told, by parking myself in places like coffee shops where people are comfortable, it has made me a better and more productive minister to New Braunfels on behalf of FPC.

While, like Peter, I am please to report on the success of this method for the kingdom of God, my most sincere hope is that my example would inspire other church-goers to be incarnational in their world as well.  This is the mandate of Jesus in the Great Commission.  We are to go to the world because they may not come to us.

Learn more about First Prostestant Church online: www.firstprotestant.com