Christianity Today reports on a small but growing idea among some younger Christians in India: open a café, and let faith have a public table. In a country where Christians are a small minority, a lot of church life has stayed inside church walls and homes. These shops are an attempt to change that, without turning the room into a pulpit.
In Hyderabad, Chirag, which means “light” in Urdu, opened in May as a café attached to Chirag Christian Cultural Center. Cofounders Samuel Abhishek and Maureen Keerthana wanted a place where people could talk about life, purpose and faith over chai and food, and where musicians from different churches could play. Abhishek has said it’s time for Christians to “mainstream Christian culture” instead of staying inward-looking. Keerthana put the risk in a familiar line: “If God gives a vision, he also gives provision.” About 25 kilometers away, another Christian café in the city’s commercial district holds open mics, movie nights and art events with biblical themes. CT agreed not to name that shop after its owners faced backlash from earlier coverage. Friends had warned them not to link the business to their faith. They went ahead anyway, holding onto “seek first his kingdom.”
My take
I love this kind of ordinary courage. You don’t have to be a pastor to make room for a conversation about Jesus. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). Pray for these owners, for the people who wander in for a meal and stay for a better one, and for wisdom in a place where being public about faith can still cost you. The Holy Spirit can do a lot over a cup of chai.
God Bless, and May the Source Be with You!
