If you’re interested in the logistical side of ministry with a few miracles thrown in for good measure, please visit my guest blog post at Suzanne Woods Fisher’s website. She asked me to share about the beginnings of the Neighborhood Cafe, what to do when enthusiasm and creativity drizzles off, the hardest part about getting started, any unexpected surprises along the way – and more!

Leave a comment on Suzanne’s blog to be entered to win a Neighborhood Cafe Kit!

Dreams Coming True: Loving Neighbors in a New Way

Dreams Coming True is a Thursday feature on my blog, a way to highlight those whose goal is to create community. The dream might be a blog, a published book, a small business, volunteering, or even fundraising for a charity. Something that makes the world a better place . . . for others.

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin” (Zechariah 4:10, NLT).

Welcome Amy Lively, creator of The Neighborhood Café, to Dreams Coming True! Leave a comment on this post to enter to win a Neighborhood Café Kit! 

Tell us a little about yourself, Amy!

After many years of rejecting Christ, I finally responded to His Spirit thanks to the powerful influence of many good, Godly girlfriends and countless prayers. This experience taught me firsthand how natural relationships impact our spiritual destiny! Loving Jesus has made me a better wife to David, my husband of 24 years; a better mom to our daughter, Emma, a high school senior; and a better neighbor. I’m on staff at our church and I’m also writing a book, and I created a ministry called The Neighborhood Café.

When did this creative dream begin?

I learned the concept of neighborhood Bible study at a women’s conference for writers and speakers in 2008. My initial excitement about doing this in my own neighborhood quickly turned to fear when I realized the time and effort it would involve… and then there was the slight problem that I didn’t know my neighbors!

After months of arguing with God about this crazy idea, I finally invited my neighbors to an Open House followed by a neighborhood Bible study in my home. It was called the Rosewood Café because we lived on Rosewood Drive. Eventually a ministry was born called the Neighborhood Café that equips women to love their neighbors in a whole new way.

How did this project/idea get started?

Our best ideas start in our own experiences. Long before the Neighborhood Café became a ministry, I ministered to my own neighbors. My heart’s desire was first to teach my neighbors about Jesus, then to teach others about neighborhood ministry. If I wanted to teach others, I knew had to… {continue reading at Suzanne Woods Fisher’s website}