Jerry Eckels (left) and David Hungerford (right) position the sign for The Coffee House, which will be open from noon to midnight Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. All profits will be sent to Third World countries.
A student sits down at a smooth black table, soon to be littered with homework and papers, and takes a sip from a steaming mug of coffee.
It happens every day, but at The Coffee House that sip of coffee is savored by more than a student’s taste buds: it could make an impact on the world.
The Coffee House is a nonprofit business that is financed completely by donations and run by volunteers from University Heights Baptist Church, said Mary Bugg, wife of UHBC’s pastor.
Mary Bugg and church members adopted, organized and decorated the coffee shop after the college youth group advocated the idea last semester.
Although The Coffee House is a Christian-run business, it won’t be used for spreading the faith.
“We want this to be a hang out place for everybody,” Pastor John Bugg said. “This is not an evangelistic ministry. It’s just a place where kids can come drink coffee, use the Internet or just hang out.
“We aren’t going to get them in here and bash them on the head with a Bible.”
The Coffee House opens today and will be open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from noon to midnight, providing an alternative to the party scene.
The couple said they hope to attract a variety of students to the shop.
The church will buy its coffee through a Third World free trade company.
Any profit that the coffee shop makes will be sent back to Costa Rica, Mary Bugg said.
“This really gives OSU an opportunity to make a global impact, and I feel that this will attract students that maybe wouldn’t normally choose to come to a Christian-based place,” Mary said.
The shop also will sell repellent-treated mosquito nets for $6 to be sent to Africa to fight Malaria.
“ESPN sold the mosquito nets for $10 a piece, and was able to totally rid a village of about 3,500 people of Malaria,” John Bugg said.
The Buggs said they hope to work with other ministries once the shop is fully operating, including one that helps get women in other countries escape prostitution.
“We want to buy items like handmade jewelry to sell for profit and send back to help these women out,” John Bugg said.
Hanging on the original brick walls of The Coffee House are pictures from various mission trips, representing the places the shop will be benefiting.
“We want people to be able to put a face with the issue,” Mary Bugg said.
The Coffee House also provides inexpensive coffee for students.
“The most expensive drinks will not cost more than $3,” Mary said. “The students mean so much to Stillwater and to our church, we just wanted to give them a place to go where they can have fun.”
The Buggs also said they want the shop to be a place where students can perform musically or display art.
“We want this to be a place where students can come share their gifts and talents with others,” Mary Bugg said.
Students are having positive reactions to the idea of The Coffee House.
“I’m so excited that they see that there is a demographic for students that care about people in under privileged countries and also support local students with their talents,” said Kelsey Purifoy, a history sophomore.
Students or artists interested in performing or displaying art can contact Mary Bugg at marybugg@suddenlink.net.
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Will you be so kind as to tell us where The Coffee House is located?
It’s at the corner of 3rd and Knoblock.