It’s official. Ebenezers was voted the #2 Coffeehouse by AOL CityGuide. Check it out. I was hoping we’d take top spot, but #2 ain’t bad when you’ve been in business less than a year! And on a technicality, we’re #1 in DC because Jammin’ Java is in Virginia

Just thought I’d share a few coffeehouse thoughts.

In a sense, we have no business being in the coffeehouse business. We’re not qualified. We had zero experience before jumping in. But we had a dream that was conceived and sustained by prayer! And it’s amazing the way eight years of prayer can compensate for our inability or inexperience!

The driving motivation behind the coffeehouse has always been to create a third place–a place where the church and community could cross paths. Too many churches end up quarantined behind the four walls of the sanctuary.

Seems to me like Jesus hung out at wells. Wells weren’t just places to draw water. They were natural gathering places in ancient culture. Coffeehouses are postmodern wells.

Going into this endeavor we knew we had to pass the starbucks litmus test. Starbucks sets the standard in the coffeehouse business. But I’ve always felt like the church should beat the world at their game. It’s that sanctified competitive streak.

It’s about more than good coffee. It’s about more than a cool coffeehouse.

Ebenezers is coffee with a cause!