21 Aug The Story of Café Liberté

The Story of Café Liberté: From the beginning, before we ever told anyone that we felt like God was sending us to France, we asked God one question, how? How could we ever make a difference in a place like that? It’s not that these people don’t know Jesus, throughout history they’ve been shown a form of Christianity that doesn’t seem to look like the Jesus of the Bible at all. Vanessa and I asked the Lord…how? 

Over the course of a few months, we heard three specific instructions from the Lord as we moved forward. The first was that we were going to have to get out of the driver’s seat in this process. Jesus was the one who would be driving and our job was to be in the vehicle ready to follow where He was leading. The second instruction was that we were going to need to ask for help. We knew and have seen that the work God is doing through us is not possible without the help of a community, an army of believers, a family of faith filled people. The last word we received really hit home in our hearts. 

God had said that He would need to be in the driver’s seat, that we would need to ask for help from the body of Christ, and the final instruction was a revelation that the work that God was going to do here in Grenoble was going to come through a commitment to prayer. The answer to our biggest question of how, was answered with just one word, pray. We started to press into this gift of prayer and read two books that had been suggested to us from leaders here in France, Red Moon Rising and Dirty Glory by Pete Grieg. These books opened up our eyes to the 24/7 Prayer movement and lit a fire in our hearts for a dream to someday open up a place where something like this can be hosted.

We prayed for God to speak to us through His word and Vanessa was lead to this verse in the book of Daniel:

17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

Daniel 9:17-19

This has become the foundation for everything we’ve chosen to pursue since arriving in France, asking God to hear the prayers of His people and to see the needs of our city. Not because we are worthy or righteous, but because God is rich in mercy and He loves us.

Upon arriving in France we met a woman who attends our church who shared a ministry that she had started years ago that has been in a state of dormancy since the COVID restrictions made it impossible to continue. She had opened a small café in the centre of the city as a non-profit that was also a place of prayer. Due to the restraints brought on by COVID, she was forced to close and rent the facility out to a small business owner so that she could continue to fund her main business down the street. She told us that God told her one day that He would restore that dream and use it for His glory. We told her a little about what God had spoken to us about prayer and we left the conversation hoping one day that a miracle may happen.

Later that year we hosted pastors from Napa, California and we took some time to go to a lookout point above the city and pray. They prayed that God would begin to water and grow seeds that had been planted in the ground years ago. We prayed in faith and believed for great things in the future. Almost a year passed from the conversation with the woman at our church and less than a week after the pastors left to return home we received a text.

The woman from our church informed us that the renter who had signed a 6 year contract was asking to break the contract and move on, she said if we wanted the property that she would rent it to us. We were stunned, it seemed like God was bringing new life to old seeds. We prayed, we asked mentors and friends, and we prayed some more. After a conversation with our wonderful area directors, we said yes. 

As I’m writing this, I’m sitting in this small two story café that is now filled with new decorations, trash on the ground, and covered with the fingerprints of God. We decided to call this place Café Liberté because we know that where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. We’re believing that this place will be a beacon of hope and a torch of light for Christ in the city of Grenoble. We’re surrounded by bars and people who aren’t looking for what God is offering, but we will pray. Our hope is that this place is a place for people to come for a coffee but leave having been prayed for. We’re still asking how, and God is still saying pray. 

Which brings us to you. I believe that one of the reasons that we have a relationship with each other is because you and I were meant to join together for such a time as this. Vanessa and I did nothing to manufacture this, this was something God started long before we got here, and it’s something He’s specifically equipped us for today. But this belongs to you as well.

Your encouragement, prayers, and financial investment in my family has linked us in a way that fills me with faith. In order for this seed to continue to grow it must be partnered with people of faith who believe that there is power in prayer. That God really will move, even in the darkest of circumstances. Café Liberté is just now being born and it needs the Church to give it the support it needs to grow into all that God has in store. 

Whatever is happening here, it’s happening now, and it’s time for you to join what God is doing.

Click “Advanced Giving Options” then choose “(00) Missions Support” then type “Café Liberté – Project #9537”