Spreading Shalom In Our Community
I wonder if Jesus ever said, “Just do it!” to his little brother James? After all, Jesus was his big brother, setting an example in everything for his siblings who followed him: memorizing the Psalms, helping mom with the chores, helping Joseph with carpenter shop orders. In order for Jesus to say “just do it!” his siblings had to have an ability already, a skill to do whatever ‘it’ was.
For the Kuehns, the ‘it’ skill of spreading Shalom in the community of the Port Orchard Coffee Oasis (CO) is a gift: the gift of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Before the grocery shopping, before the food preparation, before the drive, Dick and I ask the Holy Spirit to give us Holy Spirit fruit to serve the staff and kids at CO. It is a joy to ASK for Holy Spirit fruit and power and a greater JOY to see it delivered. Without the Holy Spirit, we would have no shalom to spread to our community. For all those manifestations of love listed above: joy, peace, and patience, etc, for us these are demonstrated in distraction-free undivided-attention listening to CO kids and staff as we serve an afternoon meal. We may ask a few questions, but we are primarily listeners.
Another part of our ministry with Coffee Oasis is asking people to join in with us, whether prayer, meal preparation, or serving the meal to the kids on site. Because of partnering with others, we have seen how God expands his love for the kids, Coffee Oasis, and for us in bringing others alongside to be encouraged and to be encouragers. We have new friends praying and working alongside us for Port Orchard homeless youth to discover the love of Jesus and develop practical life skills to becoming responsible adults.
Diane Watrous is a faithful Kitsap House weekly volunteer at CO. We met Diane at Coffee Oasis in March of 2022 and in April, only a month later, we were backpacking together in southeastern Utah. This friendship with Diane started at CO and it is nurtured at CO as we work together in encouraging one another. She is a tremendous blessing to us and to CO in coordinating Kitsap House Wednesday meal delivery to CO as well as weekly on-site encouragement of the kids as she oversees laundry and closet facilities. She is a consistent face, a tireless worker who knows the names of the kids who regularly attend CO and if she doesn’t know a name, she asks! She is a listener! And she remembers what she is told by the kids and follows up with them when she sees them again. One of the greatest rewards we share with Diane is watching three CO kids come to know Jesus only a month ago. It was a holy moment; please pray for the three boys who have recently claimed Jesus as their Savior: for protection, for nurturing in Christ, for deep roots of faith to flourish and be a witness to other CO kids.
Jacob Wischoff, is the onsite professional coordinator of the Port Orchard Coffee Oasis. It is Jacob’s mission to bring the hope of Christ to the pain of teens on the Port Orchard streets. He is also a part time preacher, husband, and dad to four kids, and it is a gift to watch him in action with the kids: LISTENING quite a lot. Jake shares a history with many of the kids and it is obvious he can relate to their pain, and it is obvious he sees their potential in Christ. We’ve heard Jake ask the group: what do you think is the purpose of living? What I like about that question at CO is the kids respond with words and phrases. They feel safe enough with one another and with us to openly discuss the question. And to listen to one another and to Jake as he shares his experience of faith in Jesus.
For us, Dick and Judy, Diane, and Jake, spreading shalom in our community at Coffee Oasis begins with asking the Holy Spirit to fill us with his love for these kids. Next, we show up: we just do it: pray, listen, prepare food, wash and fold towels, sort clothes, we are a presence saying to kids emotionally and spiritually hurt that they are worthy of love and care because our God first loved them and demonstrated his love through the person of Jesus Christ.
Please pray for what your involvement with Coffee Oasis might look like. Whether you choose to pray for this organization or show up with a meal, we would love to answer your questions and to invite you to come alongside us in spreading shalom in our community.
Judy Kuehn - elder
