No One Walks Alone: Building Community and Encouragement at Coffee Creek

In a recent podcast message I shared a few stories, scriptures, and practical invitations that are close to my heart—because I believe the simple act of showing up can change a life. This article expands on that message: why presence matters more than our explanations, how church can be a weekly pit stop that fuels the rest of our lives, and what it looks like to intentionally encourage others by being present.

The moment that shaped how I pastor: a camp story

When I was a teenager at church camp I remember an afternoon when the pastor asked me to stay behind in the cabin. I wanted to be out roaming with friends like everyone else, but I agreed. A few hours later my dad arrived—unexpectedly—and delivered the news that my grandfather had died during routine heart surgery. That trip home and the funeral that followed were gut‑crushing.

At the funeral I noticed my camp pastor standing in the very back, quietly present. He didn’t give a speech or offer a tidy explanation. When he came up to me he simply put a hand on my shoulder. That presence—nothing more elaborate than his steadying hand—filled a space that words could not. Thirty‑five years later, that moment still shapes how I lead and pastor.

Presence matters more than perfect answers

We live in a culture that prizes quick answers, polished opinions, and constant productivity. We have more ways to speak than ever, but fewer places where people simply show up for one another. I’ve watched people justify harmful actions in the name of God and wondered, “Are we even asking WWJD?” The answer often comes back in small, faithful witness: Jesus spent time with people. He showed up. He was present even when he didn’t have every verbal answer to their questions.

That’s what I mean when I say our presence is more than attendance. Being present—arriving with an open heart, ready to listen, to place a hand on a shoulder, or to share a smile—serves others in ways our words sometimes cannot.

Church as a pause: a weekly refueling station

Church shouldn’t be another item to check off a calendar. I picture it as a pit stop in a long race—a place to refuel, refill, and recalibrate. If you’ve ever run a 5K or a marathon, you know the relief of an unexpected boost of water and encouragement. Church is similar: not the full meal each week, but a concentrated hour meant to pull us back into perspective so we can face Monday a little brighter.

We aim to make that hour meaningful. Whether it’s our kids ministry, worship, or a simple greeting at the door, we want Coffee Creek Sunday to be the best hour of someone’s week. It’s one hour out of 168, but that hour can influence the other 167.

The many faces of encouragement: your presence does more than you think

Encouragement isn’t one-dimensional. It doesn’t require an extrovert or a polished speaker. Sometimes encouragement looks like a grandparent showing up to a youth event—sitting in the back with hands over their ears during a heavy‑metal church concert—because they want to support the young people. That elderly woman’s presence communicated acceptance and belonging to me in ways a thousand words couldn’t.

Think about cross‑generational presence: a fourth‑grader sees high schoolers who lead worship, a new parent notices an empty nester greeting kids by name, a college student finds a place where older adults smile and remember their name. The church’s diversity shows people that the Christian life isn’t limited to one season or appearance—it’s a shared life rooted in Jesus.

Scripture and tradition that call us together

Hebrews 10:23–25 is direct about this: “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm... And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another.” Even in the early church, busyness and competing priorities threatened community. The answer then—and now—is simple: don’t give up on gathering.

“He cannot have God for his father who refuses to have Church for his mother.” — Augustine of Hippo

Augustine’s word reminds us that the Christian life is not made for solitary strength. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, writing under the shadow of great danger, argued that the physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength. He warned against individualism and celebrated “life together” as central to faithful living.

“The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Charles Spurgeon put it plainly: we are more like sheep than lions. Sheep travel in flocks for safety and life. The Christian call is not to lone heroics but to sticking together under the care of the Good Shepherd.

Practical ways to show up—what “showing up” can look like

Showing up can be simple and profound at the same time. Here are practical ways to make your presence count:

• Pray and prepare—come “prayed up.” Spend a few minutes before you arrive asking God who you might encourage that day.
• Invite someone—a real invitation: “Hey, I go to Coffee Creek; come sit by me.” That is encouragement, not an accusation.
• Create space—if someone arrives unexpectedly, move over, clean a seat, and make room.
• Be present, not performative—eye contact, a handshake, or a quiet word can be enough. You don’t need to have all the answers.
• Serve in small ways—parking lot greetings, making coffee, checking on a grieving family member—these are tangible expressions of the Gospel.
• Come spiritually engaged—read Scripture in the week, come with an open heart, be ready to listen.

What this could look like at Coffee Creek

Imagine Coffee Creek known as the place where no one walks alone—a church where people are actively invited not to fill seats, but to join a family. This means thinking about one person in your life who is walking alone right now. Maybe they’re convinced church isn’t for them: they’ll be judged, they don’t look the part, or they simply don’t see God as a welcome presence. What if your invitation was the bridge that brought them back?

Our Back to Church Sunday, small group gatherings, and every ordinary Sunday are opportunities to be that bridge. If you’ve invited someone before and they didn’t come, keep inviting. Sometimes it takes a dozen “nos” before a “yes.” When they do come, be ready—clean the seat, introduce them to someone, and make sure they leave feeling seen.

Conclusion: a simple challenge

When we gather, no one needs to walk alone. That’s the heart of the Gospel lived out in a community of imperfect people. You don’t have to be eloquent or perfectly holy. You simply have to show up—prepared, prayerful, and ready to love in small, consistent ways.

This week, pray about one person you can invite. If you’re reading this and you’re a part of Coffee Creek, think of someone who might be sitting at home and feeling far from God. Send a text. Ask them to sit by you. Bring them a cup of coffee. The small act of presence might be exactly what God uses to help them breathe again.

We’re building a church family where no one walks alone. Will you help us make that a reality?