Cafe Kindness at Park Road Baptist Church

Cafe Kindness was open every day except Good Friday during Holy Week from 11 am – 2 pm, a total of 20 hours.  Between 40 and 50 volunteers from PRBC were involved in Cafe Kindness in a variety of ways.  Many more were supporting this outreach through prayer.

I estimate that we welcomed around 80 visitors to the Cafe who would not usually come into our Church building.  Some came in more than once, and it was lovely to see them return and get to know them a little better.

Some visitors came in simply to feast on delicious home baked Easter cakes.  Others were in search of friendship and were happy to relax and chat for some time, sharing their lives and their particular needs.  We were able to interest young Mums and families in our Toddler group, Let’s Go groups and the Fun Day.  Many were invited to our Easter services.

We were given opportunities to share our faith, explain the Gospel and pray for and with individuals who requested matters for prayer.

The volunteer team staffing the Cafe met for prayer every morning.  We prayed God would be with us to strengthen and help us to reach out in love and kindness.  We also prayed for some of the cafe visitors and their needs from previous days.

We certainly experienced answers to our prayers on many occasions often finding the most appropriate person was available in the Cafe to speak to a particular visitor when required.  For example, a bereaved volunteer listened with empathy to the visitor struggling with daily life since losing a loved one.   The volunteer with more Bible knowledge was able to debate theological issues with an intellectual thinker.  Some were interested in the history and architecture of the building and a knowledgeable person was on hand to give them a guided tour. 

It was wonderful to welcome strangers into our comfortable Cafe and minister to them in different ways according to their needs and preferences.

We look forward to welcoming some of our visitors again into different groups within our church and getting to know them better.  We praise God for all he has enabled us to do through Cafe Kindness.

Rebecca Osborne