Brew Pastors carry their faith to meetings in area pubs, wineries

PLAIN TWP. − According to John's Gospel, Jesus' first recorded miracle was turning water into wine. Jesus was a guest at a wedding reception and the hosts ran out of the drink.

Other accounts in the New Testament tell of his eating and drinking with known "sinners," to the consternation of some religious people.

Joe Franz, a former staff pastor at First Christian Church, had these scriptures in mind when he formulated the idea for Brew Pastors, a nontraditional ministry whose motto is "Love God & People, Drink Good Beer."

The goal, Franz said, is to meet people were they are, and to give them a space to talk and share their faith and struggles in settings where they often feel most comfortable.

"Our ministry is a ministry of presence," he said. "It's removing barriers that keep people from having meaningful conversations."

In the Spring 2019, Franz lost both of his parents, his marriage, his job − and his dog.

"It sounds like a country song," he said with a wistful smile. "I spent a lot of time with the Lord."

Franz said he decided to conduct some informal focus groups at local breweries and restaurants to ask people what they needed, spiritually.

"I literally would walk up to tables and start conversations with people," he said. "I would ask them, 'Are you likely to to go to a local church?' A lot of people had different excuses why they wouldn't do that. Some said they didn't feel worthy, or that they would feel uncomfortable. I said, 'What if someone would meet with you in place like this?' It was a landslide of positivity."

'People are interested in Jesus'

Franz said that in July 2020, he felt called by God to launch a new ministry.

"It was like the scripture in Isaiah; it was a 'send-me' moment," he said. "I told the Lord that 'I don't know how this is going to work, or how it's going to be funded,' but we launched in October of 2020."

He sought out a longtime friend and colleague, Roger Schuler, a former campus pastor with RiverTree Christian Church.

Franz said Brew Pastors' approach is intentionally informal.

"The bulk of the time, we just show up and introduce ourselves," he said. "A lot of times, the people who are part of Brew Pastors were regulars. I would say we've been welcomed with open arms. We've even had a few places that reached out to us. "

Franz said he met his fiancee, Megan Travers, when she was essentially doing the work of Brew Pastors: Striking up conversations with people in a pub. The couple will marry in September.

Travers likens faith in God to a "constant conversation."

"A relationship with the Lord should be an all day long thing," she said. "It's finding joy in the path of your life, even in times of loss and sorrow."

Currently, there are 28 local Brew Pastors groups, with two more in the process of forming. They meet every other Thursday to talk about God and faith to share its relevance in their lives. Franz said he's also been contacted by people in other states who are interested in starting a group.

"People are very interested in Jesus," Franz said. "But they're tired of the man-made institutions that sometimes make it more difficult than it needs to be to connect to Jesus."

Franz said discussions are broached with scripture in mind, but it's more than just a Bible study.

"We talk about marital issues, divorce, family, unemployment, finances, aging parents, all the things you think about and people are going through," he said. "It's encouragement when life is hard, where you can strike up conversations at the local brewery or pub; one of the few places where you can have a conversation. Our goal is to have more Christians that just want to give back and lend an ear, over a beer."

Schuler noted that he grew up in a very strict religious home − no movies, secular music or TV.

"I think this is a more effective way to touch people," he said. "This gives us a chance to sit with people and listen to them."

Brew Pastor facilitators are men and women, but only some are ordained ministers.

"Brew Pastors is intentionally trying to send people out to where people are," Franz said. "We want to make disciples, who make other disciples. A lot of times, people don't feel equipped, but you don't have to be a Bible scholar to talk about Jesus. We give them confidence."

Over the last year and a half, one of the groups has been meeting at Matt and Melissa Smith's Forever Urban Craft Winery at Oakwood Square, which is set to close Aug. 20.

"They're great people with a great story," said Melissa Smith, co-owner with her husband, Matt. "They have a great following. They had a their main fundraiser here in December."

During their gathering last week, the Brew Pastors prayed for the Smiths, who also have a wine business in Akron, but plan to close the Plain Township location to spend more time with family.

"They're wonderful people," Travers said. "They've been so accommodating to us."

The meetings will move to Chris and Kim Rohr's Lost Trail Winery & Vineyard in Marlboro Township. Carmen Everette will lead the first discussion there at 6:30 p.m. Aug 30.

"I don't feel at all equipped to be a Brew Pastor, but God's going to equip me," she said. "I love people."

'It's how Jesus did it'

Brew Pastor Tim Roshong, Franz's half-brother, said the ministry has been a godsend, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The group, he adds, sponsors an information booth at the 720 Market event held at Oakwood Square.

"I didn't have an outlet for my spiritual life," Roshong said. "I felt confined in church. I thought it was a great idea, and it has been. I think this is the church of the future, and the church for today, too. It's been a wonderful experience. There have been miracles and blessings. It's been unbelievable."

Schuler and several others said they definitely consider Brew Pastors to be a "church."

"You have believers here," he said. "You have the Holy Spirit here. I think in America, we define church as gathering on Sunday morning. But the scriptures say 'where two or more are gathered.' I truly believe that since COVID, this is my church."

April Beck said their gatherings are not unlike those of the early church.

Schuler said the Brew Pastors' approach is in keeping with the Jewish "Lamedh" method of study in which teachers and students interact in conversation as opposed to a formal class lecture.

"It's how Jesus did it," he said.

Franz stressed that they aren't in competition with local churches.

"In many ways, we see ourselves as a partnership," he said. "We can walk with them and refer them to a local church."

During their recent gathering at Forever Urban Craft Winery, Travers facilitated a discussion she called "Where Do You Invite God to Grow in Your Life?"

"For most of us, it takes something happening in our loves to invite God in our lives," she said. "I'm as guilty as anyone. ... Those times when we feel he isn't in our lives, the word (Bible) says that he's given us everything we need. Think of a time when you consciously invited God into your life."

Chris Rohr shared that he tries to invite God in every aspect of his life.

Beck responded that she's changed how she prays.

"I don't invite God into my presence because he's always there," she said. "I ask God to invite me into his presence."

A good struggle

Brew Pastor Wayne Truelove, who leads an all-men's group that meets at the Royal Docks Brewing Co., admitted he sometimes struggles with his faith.

"I have a passion for Jesus; I want more of him in my life," he said. "But it's a struggle because life brings struggle. I trust him, but do I trust him when things get hard? It's battle of the mind, of the soul. I have faith, I love the Lord, but it's a struggle. I have to ask, am I alone here?"

His question was met with a chorus of "No."

"We're here to meet each other where we're at," Travers replied. "Wayne's authenticity is exactly where most of us are, and are afraid to admit sometimes."

Schuler likened Truelove's admission to that of Jacob, who wrestled with a man later revealed to be God, as recorded in Genesis 32.

"That's a good thing," he told Truelove. "It's a good struggle. Don't beat yourself up about it."

Members acknowledged that some Christians might take issue with their meeting in pubs and wineries. However, for centuries, the world's best beer makers were monks.

Though he admonished believers against drunkenness, even the Apostle Paul advised his protege, Timothy, to "Take a little wine for your stomach's sake."

Schuler said moderation is the key, adding that not everyone who attends Brew Pastors meetings drinks alcohol.

Truelove said people shouldn't lose track of the ministry's mission.

"I think, personally, the most important part is, it's about Jesus," he said.

Franz agrees.

"I think there's room in the kingdom of God for multiple expressions in the church," he said. "This is one of them."

To learn more visit, brewpastors.org or contact Franz at 330-705-5420.

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @cgoshayREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Brew Pastors carry their faith to meetings in area pubs, wineries