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More Faithful to Coffee than the Kingdom?

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I’ve been thinking a lot about money lately—not just about what we have or don’t have, but about how we spend it. Everywhere I go, people are talking about the cost of living. From gas pumps to grocery lines, we’re all feeling the weight of a world that’s become increasingly expensive to simply exist in.


And I understand. I really do. Life is more costly than when I came of age. Yet in all my travels—through countries both wealthy and impoverished—there’s one peculiar observation that sticks with me:


I’ve never seen an empty Starbucks. Not once.


Even when the economy is on edge and people are worried about rent or groceries, Starbucks lines still stretch out the door. And yes, I’ll confess—my Matcha Latte with soy? It’s a favorite comfort.


I’m not here to suggest that buying coffee is wrong. (Unless, of course, we’re boycotting. Are we boycotting?) But something about this reality won’t let me go. The Holy Spirit whispered something simple but sharp to me recently:


“We’re more faithful to Starbucks than to the Kingdom.” That statement stung a little. But then I did the math.


A single Starbucks drink averages around $7. If you’re grabbing one five days a week, that’s $35 a week—$140 a month. Multiply that by 100 people, and you get $14,000 in just one month. On coffee.


Now imagine what kind of Kingdom impact we could make with that kind of resource—not in theory, not in feel-good words—but in reality.


Justice Isn’t Optional

During #JusticeWeek, the Spirit kept bringing one word to mind: Mishpat.

It’s a Hebrew word for justice—not abstract, not political, but deeply spiritual. It’s the kind of justice that steps in. That advocates. That repairs. That acts.


God doesn’t suggest justice. He requires it.


And right now, one of the greatest injustices plaguing our world is the unrelenting violence against women and girls.


We’re talking about gender-based violence that leaves bodies bruised, dignity stolen, and souls silenced. We’re talking about women trapped in cycles of sexual exploitation and drug addiction, unseen by society and untouched by systems that should care.

These are not distant statistics. These are lives. This is real.

The Power of “I See You”


At Ruach Global Missions, we’ve responded to this crisis through an initiative called Project Sawubona.


Sawubona is a Zulu word that means “I see you.” It’s more than a greeting. It’s a sacred affirmation—an acknowledgment of someone’s full humanity and worth.

Project Sawubona is our declaration to women who have been abandoned, trafficked, and abused: We see you.


We see the woman numbing her pain with a needle.We see the girl whose innocence was stolen in a backroom.We see the mothers forced to sell their bodies to feed their children.

Through this project, we offer:

  • Safe housing and refuge

  • Trauma-informed counseling and healing spaces

  • Substance recovery support

  • Spiritual care and long-term restoration

This is what mishpat looks like. Not just awareness, but action. Not pity, but partnership.


A Simple Challenge

So here’s the invitation:

What if we gave up our coffee for just one month?

What if 100 of us redirected that $140 to support women in crisis—women who may not live to see next month without intervention?

That would be $14,000 in a single month. Enough to fund outreach, pay trauma counselors, provide safe housing, and restore dignity.

This isn’t about guilt. It’s about vision. It’s about believing that your small “yes” can echo into someone else’s freedom.


Join the Movement

If this stirs your heart, don’t let the moment pass.

You can give now by visiting:👉 www.thewellencounter.org/partner(Be sure to designate your gift to Ruach Global Missions – Project Sawubona.)

We’re not building projects. We’re restoring lives. And we cannot do it without people like you who are willing to see.


Let’s practice justice. Let’s live generosity. Let’s stop walking past the women who are waiting to be seen.



 
 
 

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