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Meet Tom and Bonnie...
Jesus
Christ is the life of the Jesus Coffeehouse, but
Tom and Bonnie are the heart and soul. One has only
to read the many "thank you" notes and pictures
on the wall to know how much they are loved. One
has only to talk with the coffeehouse patrons to
see how many lives have been touched by this tireless
couple who give all they have and all they are for
the glory of God.
Proverbs 20:6b asks, "but a faithful man, who can
find?" We found two - running the Jesus Coffeehouse.
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The
origin of the Jesus Coffeehouse dates back to the Christmas
of 1987 when God birthed in Tom and Bonnie Lentz - newly
saved out of a life of drugs, alcohol, and witchcraft
- a desire to help people. Tom, being an artist, created
a sign that simply said, "JESUS." They hung
the sign on the front porch of their downtown apartment
in Bloomington, IL with a desire to exalt Christ and
the true meaning of Christmas.
The homeless
community, along with people that were in need, began
knocking on their door for help. John 12:32 says, "If
I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all people
to myself." We know this verse is talking of His
death, but also of the power of His name. The name of
Jeus will draw people. Through this experience their
home grew into a coffeehouse. From their living room,
they ministered to the broken, fragmented people who
were living shattered lives. In October of 2000, the
Jesus Coffeehouse moved to a building of its own and
was established as a missionary outreach.
Luke 7:47
says, "Therefore I say to you, her sins, which
are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom
little is forgiven, the same loves little." Tom
and Bonnie know that their sins, which were many, have
been forgiven; and with that same forgiveness and love
they received, they desire to give to any and everyone
they meet.
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