Deep Time Coffee Shared at General Conference in Charlotte NC

By: Rev. Kathy Randall Bryant

There is a deep story about the solar-powered coffee that was served this week outside General Conference in Charlotte, part of sustaining the Spirit-led work of Holy Conferencing. Partnering across the multi-layered connection of the missions and ministry of The United Methodist Church, the coffee brewed by solar energy was roasted and served by Deep Time, a ministry of the Western North Carolina Conference. Working together in partnership between the North Georgia Annual Conference, the WNCC Mission Engagement team, United Methodist Committee on Relief, & General Board of Global Ministries. 

Deep Time, a ministry dedicated to reducing recidivism in Buncombe County, served up Ben’s Blend, the proceeds of which go towards a fund for tattoo coverage and removal for persons who want to change the message in their ink. The Western North Carolina conference sponsored Deep Time’s offer of free coffee outside the doors of the convention center where General conference has been held these past two weeks. 

Rev. Dustin Mailman, one of the ten staff of coffee roasting team that runs Deep Time, and the only one who doesn’t have a history of incarceration, poured over 300 cups of coffee on Tuesday, April 30, and spoke to me about the ministry of Deep Time.

Dustin says that, “there was a certain beauty of being right outside the doors of General Conference, outside the walls of the conference center, as a way of inviting a deeper call for the church to not just look outwards, but to also allow the inward reflection to lead to outward action. Sustainable social change happens with a dance between the inner spirit that leads to change in the outer world.”

There was a beautiful dance between the hyper-local and broad global partnership practiced in sharing a simple cup of sustainable coffee. Challenged to deep creation care, all the cups, lids, and stirrers were compostable, and they even decided not to serve dairy milk, only offering oat milk, an option friendlier to the environment. 

Deep Time started because of members of Trinity UMC in Asheville who had returned from incarceration, and the need to connect with community, and they were able to bring that need to church, and the church responded with care. 

Rev. Mailman reflects, “the beauty of this General Conference was our ability to reach across theological divides and connect to create a thing of beauty, and Deep Time crosses many theological divides and reflects the work that has been practiced here in Charlotte this week.”

About to begin their second year, Deep Time is a Fresh Expression ministry, working with the goal of reducing recidivism in Buncombe County by 25%, by addressing the markers of social determinants of health. Not only looking to throw a job and a house at someone recently returned from incarceration, Deep Time looks to seek to build the network of intangible things that are called for in the Gospel work of clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and visiting those who are sick or in prison (Matthew 25). 

Though focused on those who have experienced incarceration, Deep Time envisions a practice of ministry that looks to extend grace not only to those persons, but to practice holy ministry that begins with an inner reflection that allows us to move out into the world, entailing our stories into God’s greater story.

Dustin continues, “there is something that feels historic here, and that Deep Time got to participate in part of it, by serving the coffee we roasted here, there is a different air of mission being felt in Charlotte, and I felt the Spirit and a level of excitement, mission, and vision that after the last 15 years of practicing ministry, this is finally feeling like a body of people who are on fire.” 

Deep Time continues their ministry of roasting coffee and looking to expand into a lunchtime cafe in Asheville (if anyone knows of a free space that wants to partner in this powerful ministry of dignity let Dustin know!). For those who want to learn more, Deep Time is highlighted in the short film Gateway Home: Stories of Reentry, The Operation Gateway Story starring one of Deep Time’s own, Tim “GA” Underwood available to watch here, or look for the report offered at WNCC Annual Conference, which will include a mixtape! And if you are looking a new place to get your coffee, check out Deep Time’s website, www.deeptimeavl.org for information about this ministry and ways you can support their work.