Finding the Modern-Day Well

Where do people naturally gather in your town? If I were meeting you today, where would we go? Odds are, it’s a coffee shop, diner, or some other communal space. These places function like the community wells of ancient times. They’re a central gathering point where people connect. That’s why I choose to work in coffee shops instead of a church office.

For too long, pastors have been confined to church offices, waiting for people to walk in. But in today’s culture, that’s not where people are. So, I ditched the church office in search of the community well. I found that when I work in coffee shops, I’m naturally surrounded by people who might never step foot inside a church but are open to conversation.

Making Your Work Mobile

If you still rely on a desktop computer, it’s time to rethink that setup. Making your work mobile allows you to show up regularly in the places where people naturally gather. When you’re there often, people start noticing. They begin to wonder who you are and what you do. Over time, they’ll feel comfortable enough to engage in conversation.

It’s not about forcing ministry into these spaces but simply being present. As you become a familiar face, you’ll start to belong there.

Work in Coffee Shops to Build Relationships

Once people recognize you as part of the space, small talk begins. You’ll chat about weather updates, local events, and everyday life. This is the turning point. The temptation will be to keep your head down and stay focused on work. But this is where ministry happens.

When someone stops to talk, close the laptop. Set the phone aside. God has brought this person to you in this moment for a reason. If they had a burning question about faith, they likely wouldn’t have walked into the church office to ask it. But here, at the community well, the walls are down.

Jesus modelled this so well. In John 4, He met the Samaritan woman at a literal well. That meeting changed her life. She wasn’t in a synagogue seeking answers; she was going about her daily routine when Jesus met her where she was.

“So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?'” (John 4:28-29, ESV)

A Shift in Mindset

Being available in these spaces means shifting our understanding of productivity. It’s easy to measure work by sermons written, meetings scheduled, and emails answered. But how do we measure conversations that plant seeds of faith? How do we quantify trust built over months of small talk?

The well is where ministry happens organically. It’s where people open up, ask questions, and take steps toward Jesus. It’s where we need to be.

Join the Conversation Share Your Thoughts

• Should pastors spend more time in the community instead of the church office?
• Where is your community well, and how can you engage there?
• How do you handle interruptions when you’re focused on a task?