A new non-profit organization operates as a cafe inside Coastal Church in Shallotte, but cafe manager Shelly White says the doors are open to anyone looking for a fancy coffee or a quick snack. The cafe opened in February, and Shelly has recently been reaching out to other church communities in the area to let them know what the cafe has to offer, and what the Coastal Church congregation hopes to accomplish. 

The cafe is inside the church, to the right of the lobby. The church is the former movie theater, at 5200 Bridgers Road in Shallotte, and has been completely renovated. The church moved in to the building in October, a move that has helped increase attendance significantly. Previously, the church was mobile, and had approximately 400 people attending weekly. Now, they’re regularly seeing 900 to 1,000 on Sundays, Shelly said. 

The church offers coffee and snacks for free for churchgoers, as many churches do. But the cafe is where Sunday churchgoers can get something a bit more and enjoy some fellowship at the same time. 

“It’s kind of serving the servants,” Shelly said of the work they’re doing.

But the cafe is not just for church members, or even restricted to members of other churches. The cafe operates Monday1Thursday from 8 am to 4 pm in addition to its Sunday morning hours, and is open to all. Shelly said that they’ve had local customers stopping in, and people just driving though on the highway who found the cafe through social media or online maps. Though it may be a bit confusing at first for some customers, with the cafe being inside the church, Shelly said it doesn’t seem to keep them from coming in, and they’ve been getting great feedback from customers. 

“We’re a quieter space than the local Starbucks. We have more room to chill and hang out than some of the other coffee shops,” she said. “We have a good spot if you need to sit, or have a conference call or a meeting with somebody, or catch up with somebody you haven’t seen in a while.” While Shelly was quick to add that they love the other coffee shops in the area, she also explained the reason behind opening this new ministry effort within the church. 

Shelly said that the idea is to put money from the cafe back into missions, such as building tiny homes, creating communities for widowers or families of people participating in addiction rehab, creating areas where lower-income families can have a place to call home.

“We want to give back where we are, because that’s what Jesus calls us to do,” Shelly said.

The cafe business was something new for Shelly. “I like to joke with people that I did a YouTube university,” she said. “I have a lot of experience in retail and retail management. I have a love for coffee, so the passion came from trying things out, seeing how others are doing it, and putting it to work,” she added.  

Fifteen or so volunteers help out in the cafe as well, though some of them don’t like coffee, or even caffeine; Shelly also serves in other roles within the church in the hospitality area. Her husband Chris also works with the church, serving as assistant pastor. Shelly’s grandparents had a vacation house in Brunswick County when she was growing up, and she has lived in the County herself on and off for 20 years, living in other states for about 11 of those years. When the couple decided to go into ministry, they came home to Brunswick County to be close to their family.  

The cafe atmosphere is relaxed, with comfy couches and plenty of tables. While Christian music is the background music of choice, Shelly said that truly, everyone is welcome.

“We’re going to offer that same hospitality to everyone, ask them how their day is going, we’re going to check in on them when they’re sitting down,” she said. “I smile no matter what is going on, because I want to be that little bit of brightness in someone’s life, so if I can get them to smile and see that there is joy in the world, then that’s what it’s all about. Always, of course, my heart will be pointing them back to Jesus, but if that’s not what they’re ready for, then we’re just going to be there for them.”

The cafe menu offers flavored coffees, mochas, lattes, hot chocolate, lemonade and smoothies, including Shelly’s personal favorite, a carmel macchiato. Lattes are especially popular right now, she said, and pastry options come from the Purple Onion in Shallotte. Even the coffee itself is a mission of sorts; HOPE coffee beans come from direct trade with farmers, and proceeds help provide communities with clean water, education, and support for church and families in need. For the cafe, Shelly said they set it up so half of what they make goes toward global missions. The cafe’s mission is to”Fueling missions one cup at a time.” 

The cafe is open Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 4 pm, and on Sundays around the morning services. 

“It’s not about what you do or how good you do at the church,” Shelly said. “It’s about reaching out.”