Smack in the middle of the state of Utah is the small town of Ephraim, which is home to Snow College. It’s estimated that about 80 percent of the 5,000 students belong to the LDS Church. Across the street from the school is the Solid Rock Cafe, a former house that has been transformed into a coffee/hangout spot for students. Shane Jones and his wife Kim manage this shop where many students make it a habit to visit regularly throughout the school year, even though Mormons are not supposed to drink coffee.1 We caught up with Shane between orders of espressos and lattes to find out more about this ministry.
Eric and Sean: So why would Christians place a “coffee” shop across the street from a college that is mainly attracting an LDS audience?
Shane: It does seem odd to choose a coffee shop as a tool for ministry to the LDS, doesn’t it? We recognize that if Mormons are questioning their church, many times one of the first rebellious acts they will commit against the authority of the LDS Church is drink coffee. This is a sign that a person is willing to question and think “outside the box.” Since the coffee shop culture allows people a comfortable place to hang out and talk about all kinds of topics, including religion, it has been our goal to create a safe space for spiritual dialogue and relationship building.
Eric and Sean: Do many Latter-day Saints come in?
Shane: Some Mormons are fearful of our establishment and what we stand for, but many who come in enjoy the caffeine-free drinks as well as the other menu items and activities such as open-mic events. Others come out of curiosity or to challenge us. Of course, most of our relationships are built with those who are struggling with Mormonism or who don’t belong to the LDS Church.
Eric and Sean: Your ministry uses college interns. What is the goal in having these folks as a part of your ministry?
Shane: Student interns are a crucial part of our coffee shop ministry. The applicants we consider are strong believers who have a minimum of two years of college experience and are between 20-25 years old. Their commitment is from 1 month to 11 months. We want to serve our student interns by equipping them for various forms of evangelism, one of those being the coffee shop ministry, and send them into the world as prepared, passionate ambassadors for Christ. These young people are able to connect with students at a peer level and pursue relationships at a deeper level because they better understand the thinking of their own age group.
Eric and Sean: What kinds of conversations take place here?
Shane: A dialogue usually starts with a lot of relationship building where we discuss “life” (family, classes, pastime activities) while allowing the Holy Spirit to guide the conversation in a spiritual direction. We also have a lot of dialogue with those wanting to learn more about coffee, and surprisingly enough, those conversations often lead to discussions about faith.
Eric and Sean: What advice would you have in sharing your faith with a younger Latter-day Saint?
Shane: For one, the younger generation can sniff out a “sales job” in a second. If you don’t know what you’re talking about or don’t have an answer, they will respect you more if you are humble enough to admit it and get back with them after you have researched. Humility and sincerity go a long way. In addition, ask a lot of investigative questions and be quick to listen. Do not be thinking about what you will say next while they talk. And be willing to find a common ground even if you differ in religious beliefs.
Eric and Sean: Do Bible studies happen here? If so, how do those go?
Shane: We have had our larger college group Bible studies in the cafe during open hours. Many times, coffee shop patrons who are not part of the study are listening. We also have one-on-one studies with a variety of people.
Eric and Sean: There is a Bible museum in this place located in different rooms, with the artifacts from the Holy Land in glass cases. What is the purpose of having these here?
Shane: We use 500-year-old manuscripts, 2,000-year-old coins, and a 3,000-year-old brick from the wall of Jericho, among other items, to show how ancient civilizations coincide with biblical stories. The evidence for the Bible is much better than what can be used to support the Book of Mormon story.