Coffee and connection at the Fairfield Salvos Store
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
BY LAUREN MARTIN
Every second Monday, when people walk into Salvos Stores Fairfield in south-west Sydney, they are greeted by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The source? A coffee machine manned by members of the nearby corps, who invite people to connect, share life and pray.
‘Coffee and Connect’ is a ministry that started this year after months of prayer. Auxiliary-Lieutenants Katharine and Russell Brown, Corps Officers at Fairfield, felt led by the Holy Spirit to their Salvos Store, and a prayer walk with others confirmed it.
“The aim is to make relational connection, and share the love of Jesus with the volunteers, staff and community members,” said Katharine.
“While prayer-walking in Fairfield with the other members of the South West Hub team, it was confirmed that Salvos Stores Fairfield would be a place of connection.”
So far, God has opened doors for Katharine and a ministry volunteer, Joseline, to come alongside people who are lonely, isolated, and newly arrived in Australia.
“One lady mentioned she felt like Jesus hugged her through the love that was shown to her,” said Katharine. “Another lady returned in the next fortnight to say that after we prayed for understanding in the relationship between her and her son, she had noticed there was a great sense of peace in her household.”
One woman who reconnected with Katharine and Joseline at Coffee and Connect joined them for church at Fairfield Corps that Sunday.
For Katharine, getting out of the corps building and into the community is an important part of discipleship – following the ways of Jesus.
“Jesus primarily ministered to marginalised people by healing the sick and proclaiming good news of His Kingdom in the places where crowds gathered in the community,” she says. “This is part of Jesus’ ‘go’ ministry that he is calling us as a Salvation Army movement back to, in this modern context.”
The ministry has been fully backed by Salvos Stores Fairfield Manager Julie Bryce and Area Manager Jeff McCartney, who said: “Coffee and Connect assists the store in letting locals see the bigger picture as to what The Salvation Army is and does. It also gives our team (volunteers and staff) an understanding that there is more to what they do than just ‘sell stuff’.
“Let’s not only spread the word of God but also spread the good news that Salvos Stores is more than just a shop. It’s The Salvation Army and a place where the community can be in their ‘happy place’.”
