Changing the Conversation African Leadership & Mocha Club

Randy Draughon is the senior pastor at Midtown Fellowship in Nashville. Emily and Fallon chat with him about the global church and what he has learned from African pastors on his various trips on the continent. We also hear incredible stories about local leaders in Uganda and what they experience in pursuit of sharing the Word. It’s a rich conversation.

On today’s episode, Fallon sits down to chat with Katie Rose who is on staff at the Well Coffeehouse here in Nashville. Similar to our last episode, Katie and Fallon talk about how a coffee shop can make an impact beyond its customers coming in for coffee. We also take a tangent to talk about seasons where God prunes us in gentleness and Katie encourages us by sharing her personal experience with where He has guided her - at the Well, in her radio jobs, and in her travels around the world.

On today’s episode, Fallon spends time with April Kirby and Bailey Plante who run Crest Coffee House in Nashville! (You'll hear us refer to the shop as Crest Café but since the recording they have launched the rebrand to Crest Coffee House.) This coffee shop is not your average place. It’s Nashville’s first and only donation-based coffee shop! And this is just one of the many ways Crest Coffee House serves its surrounding community. We talk about the power of community and inclusivity and how we are called to participate in both. Locals and visitors, welcome to your new favorite coffee shop.

We’re killing two birds with one stone today as we hang out and chat with Matt Wertz and Dave Barnes - two of the biggest reasons people know about Mocha Club and African Leadership. Matt and Dave have used their platforms as musicians to share about Mocha Club and our work across the continent. Today’s conversation is a real life example of how we encourage our community to leverage who they are and what they have to impact someone else. We celebrate the impact Matt and Dave have made in Africa by looking back at their travels, reminiscing on stories, and sharing the impact numbers these guys have made with YOU, Mocha Club friends! Come hang out with us!

Technology is amazing! Today our podcast guest is chatting with us all the way from Nairobi, Kenya! Irene Tongoi is the founder of New Dawn Educational Centre, a project that African Leadership and Mocha Club have supported since the beginning. Irene shares the story of turning her desire to provide education for her community into building a two-story high school that now enrolls 160 students each year. This desire started when she took the time to notice her neighbors and learn about their lives. What incredible things could happen in our community if we did the same thing? You only have to be willing; the Lord does the rest.

On today’s episode, Emily and Fallon sit down with author, speaker, and podcaster, Annie F Downs. She’s been a LONG time friend of the organization and even was on staff with Mocha Club for a few years. We talk about God’s part in the work Annie does and how He got her there. We talk about her journey and the way the Lord moved details to do HIS work and also helping Annie define who she is and what she is called to do. We also focus on the aspect of time and how we can experience a more full life when we honor rest and sabbath. It’s a sitting-on-a-couch-with-a-group-of-friends kind of conversation. Enjoy!