Church coffee shop supports missions abroad

The First Assembly of God’s music pastor, Jason Hall, does more than assure music rings the rafters of the South Ferdon Boulevard church.

He also makes sure the java’s flowing.

Pastor Hall oversees the church’s Extreme Bean coffee shop.

“It’s one of my many jobs,” he chuckled. “I’m glad to take on the project.”

The Extreme Bean, located in the front of the church, opened June 29 as part of the church’s Independence Day celebration. Even though its hours currently are limited, the coffee shop has begun to attract a following.

That’s good news for the beneficiaries of the congregation’s mission work.

“We support missions in general,” Pastor Hall said. “We support several different countries from Africa to South America, Europe and a bunch of different places.”

The coffee shop, regulated as a retail bakery, chooses vendors, such as Saints Coffee that can support its mission.

“When you buy a one-pound bag of coffee from Saints Coffee, it feeds a child for a week,” Hall said.

Under newly-appointed manager Dorianne Bauza, the church plans to expand the Extreme Bean’s hours. Currently it is open Friday and Saturday evenings, and before services on Wednesdays and Sundays.

“We’re just getting the buzz out and starting to generate customers,” Pastor Hall said. “The goal would definitely be to open daily.”

The Extreme Bean is open to public, Hall said.

You don’t need to be a member of church” to enjoy the shop’s menu of frappes, smoothies, iced coffee and more.

“It’s just like any other coffee shop. It just is in our building,” he added.

Because the Extreme Bean doesn’t have to pay rent or a mortgage, Hall said it is able to offer its products cheaper than other coffee shops.

The shop’s freshly brewed coffees come in several varieties, including some from Ethiopia.

“Which is the world’s best,” Pastor Hall declared of the Ethiopian coffee. “It’s where coffee originated.

“We also typically have fresh homemade pastries as well,” he said. “We don’t have automatic stuff. We pretty much do everything by hand. I think that makes it a little different, and we can adjust drinks to customers’ tastes that way.”

The shop also features free WiFi, so feel free to pull up a chair, get a java and open your laptop, Pastor Hall encouraged.

“The money you spend isn’t going to make somebody rich,” Pastor Hall said. “It goes to help people.”

EXTREME BEAN HOURS

Next to the front entrance of the First Assembly of God, 400 S. Ferdon Blvd., open Fri-Sat, 5-10 p.m.; before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday services; and before Sunday morning 8.30 and 11 a.m. services. (850) 682-3518, or www.extremebean.org.