What do you do when many of your group members leave the state for the winter months? Global Coffee Break leader, CaraBeth Holmstrom, and her group have approached this challenge with a fun way to keep the fellowship while waiting for their full group to return. Coffee Break Hangout is a weekly gathering with games, knitting, and conversation. Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Princeton, MN is no stranger to the “snow bird syndrome.” Many of the regular attendees to both church and bible study groups are in a southern state for the months of January and February. CaraBeth and her leadership team did not want to start a new bible study while missing a large population of their group members, and at the same time, they knew continuing to meet was valuable to those still in town. “It started after the COVID restrictions were lifted,” Holmstrom shared. “We needed fellowship, but we didn’t want to start a study with so many of our group not there.” So, Coffee Break Hangout was born.

During this weekly hangout time, women come to fellowship with those they’ve built relationships with during their fall Bible study season. They’ll play games, laugh, knit or crochet or just sit and chat. As this tradition has continued, new women have joined the hangout time and then when Bible study starts back up in March, they stay for that as well. “It’s a less intimidating entry point,” CaraBeth reflects. “In fact, newcomers in the fall often ask, ‘Will there be Coffee Break Hangout in the winter too?’” As it’s gained popularity, they are now adding a Saturday option to invite youth to participate as well. It’s an open door to introduce a love of Bible study and a community of believers to a new generation.