Meet Kathy!

Meet Kathy.

She is not just the smiling face behind the counter at Creek Espresso, she manages the whole operation, trains and leads the baristas, buys ingredients, manages the till AND she represents a milestone in AC3’s long running Community Center plan…

How you ask?

Lemme ‘splain.

When the Community Center vision first emerged almost 8 years ago, central to the concept was that it be a self-supporting ministry. In other words the cost of the activities undertaken by the Community Center should be paid for with money earned by the Community Center. We imagined rental income from various community groups which used our buildings, we talked about a furniture manufacturing company that would double as a job training program, and other ideas were floated and tried.

We call this concept: B.A.M. (Business As Mission) and the purpose is to create a revenue stream while serving the community and that revenue stream is invested in other Community Center Programs. As of today – under the B.A.M. banner we have:

The Marysville Farmer’s Market (beginning it’s second season on June 4^th!).  The first year of the market was great. But being a brand new endeavor – we’re still investing money from last year’s market into making this year even better.

Creek Espresso. Every weekend, (and some weekdays!) Kathy and her other volunteers man the steam wand and the bean grinder turning out lattes and Italian sodas for AC3’rs and visitors. Quietly, at the rate of a couple of bucks / drink, Creek Espresso has put almost $1,300.00 into the Community Center bank!

Here’s the milestone: There is enough “profit” from Creek Espresso that we can, for the first time, use that money to help fund a Community Center project!

A portion of those Creek Espresso “profits” will be used to support the Market Mentor’s Program this summer! Last year, Market Mentors was funded almost entirely by funds from Seeds of Grace (AC3’s benevolence ministry). But this year we see the first step toward a Community Center Program being funded by a Community Center Program!

BAM!!

Thanks Kathy for you and your team!

Thanks B.A.M. Board for overseeing this loooong process!

Thanks Farmer's Market Team...GO GET 'EM this summer!

Thanks coffee drinkers at AC3! Keep it up J

Does this stuff get you excited? (then you’re what we call a ministry nerd) but ALSO you can get involved!          

Creek Espresso is always looking for more help!

Contact Kathy: kathha@hotmail.com

Marysville Farmer’s Market WANTS YOU! Lots of cool stuff to do!

Contact Tina: Tina_Sunflower2000@yahoo.com

Market Mentors could your expertise in sales, management, customer service and more!

Contact Twila: twila@ac3.org

B.A.M. Board / Community Center – interested in finding out more about ANY of this?

Contact Dan: danxp.ac3@gmail.com

AC3 VB51 Year End Celebration

Here is this weeks Video Blog. Enjoy! :)

Creek Espresso: This is Where I Belong

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,

faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms."

1 Peter 4:10

Hello AC3! My Name is Stephanie Moddison. For those of you who don't know me, I'm the manager of Creek Espresso, the coffee bar in our lobby. 

My husband, Nate and I. 

I started coming to AC3 back in January 2013. We were just “checking out churches,” and AC3 happened to be the first one on the list. After a month of coming to weekend services, we were hooked. It felt right. It felt like this was the church for us. A church where we felt welcomed, regardless of our story.

Only a few months later, we started getting the urge to serve. But where? I was a very pregnant full time Café Manager and District Trainer at Barnes & Noble (with a horrendous commute). How would I possibly have time to serve? I’m too busy. I’m too tired. Maybe after I have the baby. I was full of excuses.

Fast forward to October 2013.

My husband started serving at AC3 by drumming once a month with the worship team. It made him so happy to be using his talents to serve the Lord and our church community.

I started asking myself, where do I belong?

After the New Year, we were so upset to find out that the C-Bar had closed. We reached out to find out what happened and if the lobby coffee bar would still be open. After finding out that the lobby coffee bar needed help, God was tapping me on the shoulder. This is where you’re gifted. This is where you can serve.

Is this where I belong?

I went to my first BAM (Business as Mission) meeting in February, and felt my calling. The lobby coffee bar needed help, and needed the gifts I have received to serve others. But I was hesitant. Even though I had recently become a stay at home mom, I still questioned the time commitment. I have an 8 month old. How would I possibly have time to serve AND sleep?

So I prayed.

I helped out with training and inventory for a few months while Jared handled the financial side of things. I wasn't “all in,” but I felt that I was serving just enough for what our family could handle at the time.

I kept praying. 

Please Lord; show me the path you want me to follow, I feel connected to this church. Connected to this coffee bar. I want to help. I want to belong to something meaningful. I want to serve YOU!

So He led me.

Things got easier. Systems were put in place. We made lots of changes to make the coffee bar more profitable for our Community Center. I was ready to be “all in!”

I took over full operations of the newly named Creek Espresso in September after feeling God answering my prayers. God is so good. The story of this transition is truly wonderful.

This is where I belong, Creek Espresso is my way of administering God’s grace.

Every week I look forward to what we can do to make Creek Espresso more successful. Every week I look forward to working with our amazing volunteers, who bring so much joy to this endeavor. And every week I thank God for His guidance and motivation to get me to where I am now.

So I will ask… where do you belong? Are you feeling the call to serve? Listen to that call, because the gifts you have received CAN make a difference. The gifts you have received have been given to you for a reason.

How can you administer God’s grace?

Creek Espresso is located in the lobby at Allen Creek Community Church.

Hours of operation:
Saturday 5:30pm-8pm (closed during service) & Sunday 8:30am-12pm.
We are always accepting new volunteers. If you're interested, stop by when we are open or email smoddison@gmail.com.

Make sure you "LIKE" Creek Espresso on Facebook for news and specials!