As churches began to emerge from COVID two years ago, many dreamed of restarting ministries that the pandemic had sidelined. Tindley Temple on South Broad Street was no different. They were looking forward to reopening their feeding ministry that provides dinner for those in need.

This congregation, small in numbers but mighty in faith, got everything ready. They reached out to the local high school and Drexel University for volunteers. Everything was falling into place, but then they realized the walk-in refrigerators and freezers were no longer operational and it would cost $78,000 to repair them.

Immediately, Pastor John Brice and the members of Tindley Temple began to think and pray: “What can we do? What other resources do we have? How can we be creative?”

They realized that while they didn’t have a walk-in freezer, they did have a functioning kitchen and were licensed as a restaurant, so they said to themselves, “Let’s open Tindley Tea Café.”

They partnered with a local culinary school to design the menu and hired someone who had a ServSafe license. They opened a restaurant to raise the money needed to reopen their feeding ministry.

Rev. John Brice is excited about how the Holy Spirit is moving in this new endeavor. “It is maximizing the potential of the church. God is using all of us; this is our tool for doing ministry.”

Not only is the café raising money to help Tindley Temple rebuild, but it’s also providing an opportunity to engage with the surrounding community in new ways. Tindley hosted a vice-presidential debate watch party that was well attended, as well as a gospel karaoke night that brought people into the church in a non-traditional format. Rev. Brice said, “They were praising God right in the middle of the café.”

Rev. Brice looks forward to the day when Tindley Temple can resume their soup kitchen. “There are no dinner options in Center City on South Broad. There’s lunch at Broad Street Hub at 1 p.m.”

The feeding ministry is essential for families as rising costs in housing and groceries put pressure on household budgets. Rev. Brice shared that folks are coming to him saying, “I have a job. It’s just hard to pay the mortgage and pay for dinner every night.”

When I told him that I thought it was amazing how folks are using the resources they have in their hands to do ministry, Rev. Brice responded, “That’s who we are. That’s what we see in Jesus. We gotta feed the five thousand; we’ve got a kid’s meal.”

Somehow, in the hands of God, the kid’s meal that we offer in faith is always enough and more than enough. If you are around South Broad Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday to Saturday and you need something to eat, stop by the café or order through Uber Eats or Toast.