Dream Awakener

German pub friends
Originally uploaded by Camera Freak

A guest post by Mark Steffey

“Craft Beer” – Option Two:  Formalized Mission Programs
The second option for Christians is to go right into the center of the storm by targeting bars and pubs as viable “third places” for mission.  Churches and communities of faith should encourage members to frequent local pubs/bars as a social context in which they can get to know and build strong relationships with people who are there.  This could lead to a variety of pathways to Christ – long-term friendships, invitations to attend a meeting of the missional church community, or other creative groups, like the ones started in various cities by the Catholic church known as “theology on tap” groups.  These groups target young adults for weekly or monthly gatherings where spiritual topics are addressed while attendees share a drink.  In her article, “God and beer in the summertime,” Renee M. LaReau describes one such group,

"But in the cool basement of the Sheil Catholic Center on Northwestern’s campus the atmosphere is more reflective. More than 80 young adults, participants in the Chicago archdiocese’s Theology on Tap program, deliberate thoughtfully and silently as they sit at round tables and write. Music by Christian singer Michael Poirer plays softly from a CD player in the corner of the room. Periodically, the clink of glass breaks the silence, as participants sip from cold bottles of Amstel Light and Samuel Adams during this 10-minute “reflection time.”

Jesuit Fr. Michael Sparough, the featured speaker at this Theology on Tap site, gave this group much food for thought in his presentation on decision-making. He encouraged them to reflect on their own decisions in the areas of friendship, career, prayer life and sexuality. After the reflection time, he invited participants to divide into small groups for discussion. Sparough encouraged them to share at a level of intimacy they are comfortable with. “Don’t put something out there that’s kinda raw,” he half-joked, provoking an immediate wave of laughter (LaReau, online article 2002).

These groups are an example of a creative, organized way of capitalizing on the tendency of young adults to gather around “good” beer.  Churches and other Christian groups need more of this kind of bold programmatic thinking.

The next post is a short conclusion.