At a recent planning day, the English Conversation Café team mapped out some of the countries that guests who attend the evenings come from. Take a look. What do you notice?

In short, you’ll see that God has brought a mission field to our doorstep. Regularly around the tables on Monday nights are guests from East Asia, continental Europe as well as parts of South America, the Middle East and beyond. But all come with one shared goal: to find community. At English Conversation Café, that’s exactly what we prayerfully try to offer. As followers of Jesus, we have a great opportunity to provide a welcome in a new (and perhaps unfamiliar) culture, to offer friendship and to share our hope and faith. Here’s an insight into what we get up to.

“Why is the cross significant to Christians?”

Part of the fun of café nights is never quite knowing where a conversation might lead. Each session has a theme ranging from ‘New Year Resolutions’ to ‘Holidays’ which form the basis for a set of discussion questions followed by a themed activity or quiz. We discuss what we’d bring to a desert island, what we’re looking forward to in the year ahead or have a laugh over a game of Pictionary. Recently, we ran an activity where teams had to design a flag that represented their group. Suggestions of things to add to the flag included a Costa coffee mug, the MeetUp logo (the platform we advertise on) and the Shard as a nod to London. On one table, a guest exclaimed: “We should add a cross as you guys are Christians!” Before a volunteer had the chance to agree, another turned and said: “Why is the cross significant to Christians?”. I wonder, how often do you get asked such a direct question? How would you respond?

It’s dynamic and organic Gospel-sharing opportunities like these that make café nights so fun and worthwhile. Getting to know new friends and answer their questions about faith and church is great, but we have also been privileged to dig deeper and open God’s word with a small group. Through a book club and Bible studies, guests have come to know more fully the hope we have in Jesus. Our prayer is that they may accept it, not because of our persuasion, but because of the power of the Holy Spirit at work in them and through us.

“I’ll bring cake!”

Church family is such a blessing to so many of us as we celebrate and support each other through the big and small moments of life. At café, we get to extend that sense of community to others. In the last 4 years of running café nights, we’ve celebrated birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Chinese New Year, new jobs/promotions and farewells. One friend from India has been to a Globe Carol service for 3 years running, and another always brings traditional homemade cake on her birthday to share with guests and volunteers. To be part of a ministry that is so community-centred is beautiful, especially in a city like London. For the Ukrainian couple recently arrived in the UK, the Iranian dad reuniting with family, and even the Italian student on a week’s trip to London, English Conversation Café has its doors open to whoever may choose to come by.

Why not come along yourself?

If you’re interested in serving at English Conversation Cafe, email info@globe.church.