Aaron Norwood [The Bridge, Arizona, USA] pops in for an Americano and a chat
[09.03]

Hi, welcome to our virtual coffee shop. Pull up a chair, take the load of your feet. Let's chat.

So who are you, where you from, what do you do in life?
i'm aaron norwood, living in the phoenix metroplex, and i pastor the Bridge -- which now means directing a community center/emergeny food bank, too.

Can I get you a drink? Cappucino, earl grey, dandelion and burdock, pale ale?
americano, please.

Would you like a doughnut or pastry to go with that?
bagel w/ peanut butter, thanks.

So, if you had to describe the church/project/experiment/thingy you are currently involved with in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
we are a young church with a passion to follow Jesus; love all & worship One.

Are you an instigator? / new recruit? / have absolutely no recollection of how you got involved?
all of the above. i came on board a few months into the church plant, and have been the instigator for the last 2 and a half years: pastoring the Bridge, and now planting a new "bridge" in our newly "inherited" community center/food bank/coffee house, rio vista center.

What do you value most about being part of it?
the relationships with our people, and the growing friendships with other like-minded pastors.

What excites you most about it?
serving the poor, seeing a pagan begin to follow Jesus, sending people to other states/countries as missionaries, watching my 3 year old daughter be a part of the church

Has anyone ever turned up out of the blue not knowing what to expect?
What did they say?
yes. we meet in a nightclub, so most often they love the music part, and if they stay through the talk thingy, or communion, or whatever, they'll say it was cool. but people do wander in off the streets thinking the club is open, and our band is bringing it, so unless they read the lyrics on the screen, they just dig it.

Three words that describe your attitude to 'being church' in the big wide world: movement, risk, fun

Three words that DON'T:
stagnant, comfortable, church-building

You have this weird dream - you meet Jesus face to face.
Where does it happen, what does he say to you?
wow, now it's getting tough. he would be bringing in a drunk outside of the nightclub, or standing with the poor in the foodline, and he'd probably just introduce me to his friend.

What's the big secret you're itching to share with everyone?
that it could/would all happen without me. and without you.

What would your 'emerging church survival kit' contain?
work gloves, a journal, digital camera,

Anything else you'd like to share with us before you have to rush off?
this is so fun.....i hope everyone can live life with a church they love this much

Thanks. have a good day!