TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pasco News

Church 'Disguised As Coffee Shop'

ADVERTISEMENT

By Cheryl  Bentley | The Suncoast News

Published: February 18, 2009

Teenagers fill the room, talking teen talk among themselves, listening to music and sipping soft drinks. To Mona Giordano, this teen activity represents the work of the Lord.

"It's a church cleverly disguised as a coffee shop," she says about the Coffee Spot House of Praise in Holiday. "It's church unusual."

She and husband Peter fulfilled their long-held dream of having a different kind of church when they opened the Coffee Spot in December 2006. They envisioned working with other churches in providing safe, informal settings for teens and adults, both believers and nonbelievers.

These days, the Giordanos are still offering those activities, but they don't know how much longer they will last. Although love is abundant at the Coffee Spot, money is not.

Mona Giordano recently tearfully announced to the Coffee Spot's followers the little coffee house would close by the end of January because of lack of funds. They reacted with equal emotion.

"There have been times there wasn't a dry eye in the house," says Coffee Spot regular Patti Yurik. "Everyone just wants them to be there."

Regulars are both church-goers and nonchurch-affiliated people who stopped in for coffee and liked the ambience. Since Giordano's announcement, they have since pledged a little over half the money needed to keep it open, but they are not wealthy people, Yurick notes. Unless more money comes, they can't keep the coffee house running.

"It was their dream," says Yurick. Mona wanted to have a church, and Peter wanted a place to exercise his gourmet cooking skills, she explains. The couple owns Pest Control General Store, on U.S. 19 in Holiday. When a vacancy opened next to their pest control business, the Giordanos decided to go for their dreams and opened the Coffee Spot there.

Everything has popped since then except the money. The couple visualized the Coffee Spot as an extension of church activities. They didn't schedule events during the days on which traditional church functions occur because they were careful not to compete.

Rather, they wanted to help churches by filling in with Christian-based activities in church slack time. "We're here to add to what pastors do, not take away from it," Mona notes.

In return, they thought area churches would help with the expenses. "I was unrealistic, I guess," she admits.

She emphasizes the Coffee Spot has proper credentials. She is a licensed minister under the Spectrum Network of Ministries International, an interdenominational group of ministries. The group was started in 2003 by Calvary Chapel Worship Center in New Port Richey, where the Giordanos are members. The Coffee Spot has been recognized by the Florida Department of Revenue and U.S. Internal Revenue Service as a physical place of worship.

Worship takes on a contemporary spin at the Coffee Spot. In addition to providing a religious service on Saturdays, the Giordanos get their message out to both teenagers and adults through live music, open mics and music lessons in a variety of instruments taught by their son Christopher, 16.

Some regulars are affiliated with churches, and others are not. They appear to appreciate both the Coffee Spot's range of activities and the warmth.

Matthew Kondilas, 13, notes the Coffee Spot is different from a traditional hangout "in a good way. Here, everyone's nice. In a coffee house, it depends on the person."

The Giordanos also turn out professional quality cappuccinos and lattes. Peter formerly served gourmet meals until budget problems forced them to downsize to snacks.

Not knowing whether their unusual church will be forced to shut down or continue has become an emotional time for the Giordanos. They recently made a commitment to continue with Rock 'N U, music lessons for teens, through March.

"We're taking a step of faith," says Mona.

The Coffee Spot is at 2632 U.S. 19, Holiday. For more information call 727-942-7412 or visit www.thecoffeespothop.com.

Cheryl Bentley can be reached at 727-815-1069 cbentley@suncoastnews.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT