Connecting with Teachers over Coffee

Stony Fork Church – January 2022

One of our main efforts in our partnership with Mount Holly Elementary School is teacher/staff encouragement. (We also include the custodial and cafeteria staff in our encouragement.) As a part of this initiative, we arranged to have the Coffee Bus from Knowledge Perk in the parking lot when the teachers and staff arrived for school. They were offered the coffee and pastry of their choice. Several from our church family were on hand to greet, build relationships with and encourage these amazing educators and staff. We were able to make new friends as well as connect one -on -one with others. During our visit, we were asked by many teachers and staff to pray for their personal needs and we also added their requests, when appropriate, to our prayer team calendar. We have continued to follow up with these requests and offer assistance when needed. It was exciting to be back with our Mount Holly family.

River Rock Community Church – January 2022

Our church recently sponsored a coffee truck for a local middle school. Our goal was to serve the faculty and staff during a teacher work-day in hopes of building a relationship with the teachers and the school as a whole. During our time on campus, we hung out in the parking lot and spoke to teachers as they waited for their drinks. We asked them questions about their year so far, the biggest challenges they were facing, and if there were any specific things that we could do to help them finish the year strong. We learned a lot about the teachers, and we learned about some very specific needs they have. By providing this coffee truck, we learned so much and we have now been invited back to serve in other capacities, including stepping in to help support a couple of Christian clubs they have on campus for students. The door is now open for us to build on this relationship and share the love of Jesus with the faculty and students of this school.

Cornerstone Baptist Church, Hartsville – January 2022

On November 19, 2021, our church arranged for a donut truck and coffee station for the faculty and staff at Thornwell Elementary School in Hartsville. For the event, we partnered with Little Orbits Mini Donuts (Lancaster), and Crema Coffee Shop (Hartsville). We served all teachers, office staff, cafeteria workers, and custodians. This was a special experience. We were able to build onto the relationships we have already made. Several church members were able to attend, and we were able to tape up a Hearts4Schools poster created by the organization’s committee/team. We handed out needs and prayer concerns cards to teachers, and they were filled out. Our church was able to have one-on-one conversations with the staff, sparking new relationships. The teachers were more than appreciative and so very thankful for this service. Overall, it was a fun event. We were able to touch base with the teachers and let them know of our constant prayers for them all, and our intent to help them in whatever way we possibly can.