Our Coffeehouse Journey

Over the past few years, Brad and Kerri have been on a journey of listening and responding to Jesus, trusting Him step by step as He continues to shape the vision of Hesed Sanctuary.

In the fall of 2024, as they were processing the adventure God had led them on at YWAM, a surprising theme began to surface again and again: coffee. In early 2025, coffee was repeatedly highlighted to them in prayer and conversation. After finding out a new friend had a coffee shop, it sparked a memory for Kerri—years earlier, while Brad and Kerri were dating, they had dreamed of having a coffee shop together. What once felt like a distant idea now felt like an invitation from the Lord.

As they continued praying and dreaming, coffee ideas kept coming. They began to sense that a coffeehouse might be the next step God was leading them into—not as an end in itself, but as a catalyst for the bigger picture of Hesed Sanctuary. They started sharing the idea with close friends and family, talking through possibilities of a coffee shop that could also function as an event and gathering space.

During this time, they remembered a word Kerri received in 2023: “Sell your house, go to YWAM for two years, and there will be land.” For a long time, they assumed the land would be for Hesed Sanctuary in its fullest form. Then, in January 2025, Kerri heard the Lord say multiple times in one day, “You’ve lived two years in six months.” As they prayed and processed, they sensed that their season at YWAM had been completed and that God was shifting them forward again. Naturally, the question became: Is land next? And where will it be?

Even along the way, God seemed to gently reinforce the coffee theme. Two trips to Norway deepened their love for coffee culture and the way coffeehouses naturally foster community, conversation, and rest. As Brad and Kerri visited coffee shops and event spaces in Tennessee, they dreamed about what God might build—imagining a space that felt peaceful, welcoming, and rooted in discipleship.

Kerri shared what she sensed from the Lord: the property would likely be just a couple of acres—smaller than their long-term vision for Hesed Sanctuary—but enough for this season. It would be slightly outside of town, with a relaxed, country feel. The building might be a barndominium-style space that could function as both a coffeehouse and an event center, possibly with flower-cut gardens or even a small vegetable garden to help support the ministry that would be happening at the coffeehouse. She also felt strongly that when it came together, it would happen quickly.

They began dreaming not just about coffee, but about discipleship—a place for worship, teaching, and doing life together. Kerri felt specifically that the word coffeehouse better reflected the heart of what God was building: a family-centered, home-like environment rather than a business.

In September, while Brad was traveling to Montana with their son, Nolan, they received a message that would shift everything. Brad’s mom shared that during an Open Door Church board meeting, the pastor (Jeff Gammon) had mentioned visiting the idea of having a coffee shop possibly for Brad and Kerri at the church. Unbeknownst to them, Brad’s aunt had earlier reached out to Jeff and his wife, Amy, asking if they would consider allowing a coffee cart at the church or possibly in the parking lot. What initially seemed like a small, loving gesture began to feel more significant.

Kerri reached out to  Jeff and as they met and shared the vision, there was immediate alignment. Jeff and Amy felt deeply connected to what God was stirring and offered land on Open Door Church’s property for a future coffeehouse. Together, they committed to pray and discern the Lord’s timing and direction.

Around the same time, they moved back to Indiana.  Shortly after, Clint and Beth Myers, dear friends and Kingdom ministry partners, began entering into intentional prayer for the vision and for their family together. During a month of focused prayer, divine connections started forming quickly. After one dinner with Jeff and Amy, and Clint and Beth, Kerri sensed that this was not just God answering their prayers, but that this might also be an answer to the prayers Jeff and Amy had been praying for a long time.

Then, almost suddenly, the Lord began emphasizing movement. On the same day, two separate conversations—one with Kerri and one with Brad—carried the same message: it’s time to move forward. That night, trusted friends encouraged them to take tangible steps and involve leadership and business-minded people.

The very next day, while working on a business plan at a local coffee shop, Brad ran into people he had not planned to meet—connections that led to prayer, prophetic encouragement, and introductions to seasoned Kingdom-minded business owners who specifically help start coffee shops. Through what they believed were divine appointments, Brad was invited to begin working in the coffee business to learn hands-on. Through this opportunity, doors opened to relationships with a roaster  who shares a heart for the Kingdom and building relationships with coffee farmers around the world.

Since then, relationships with Pastor Jeff and Amy have continued to deepen. Conversations around business planning, discipleship, and community life are ongoing. They are praying for clarity on the exact location of the coffeehouse, while continuing to gather people who feel drawn to live out faith in close community.

At its core, this coffeehouse is not just about coffee. It is about the Kingdom of God—creating a space where people can encounter the Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit, experience authentic community, and see the Church functioning as it did in Scripture: devoted to worship, teaching, fellowship, and shared life. Brad and Kerri believe this coffeehouse is the next faithful step in the journey God is leading, and they are inviting others to prayerfully consider joining them—through partnership, service, and financial investment—as this vision continues to unfold.

Invitation


We’d love to invite you to join us in praying with us as we move forward in faith to see the Hesed Sanctuary vision come to a reality, starting with the Hesed CoffeeHouse. Please contact us if you feel led to regularly pray and receive our updates.  Our first initiative is to raise $12,000 to build a coffee cart as our first step toward Hesed CoffeeHouse.

We’d love to partner with you in any way the Lord leads.


Financial Support

If you are led to support us financially, please click the “Give” menu link at the top or bottom of this page. This page will provide you with a Tithe.ly link for giving. Thank you!