Drink Coffee. Do Good.

Over 18,000 cups of coffee were served at the Catalyst Conference by Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee, an organization dedicated to providing much more than just a a high quality cup of coffee. In this interview, Catalyst sat down with Jonathan Golden, an Anglican Pastor and founder of Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee and Robert Crow, Relationship Director of the Rwandan Coffee Project to learn more about their story and how the Catalyst Community can get involved.

Catalyst:
You served 18,000 cups of coffee at the Catalyst conference and we heard you talk a lot about a "redemptive cup of coffee." What does that mean?

LTHC:
Land of a Thousand Hills provides a high quality cup of coffee that provides a Living Wage to coffee growers, micro-finance loans to genocide widows, and engages redemption in a very tangible way across the world. Hutus and Tutsis who were once engaged in bitter conflict are experiencing the forgiveness of God and learning to forgive each other as they work together to grow superb coffee. Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee is on a mission to provide excellent coffee, support sustainable economic development, and to be a catalyst for reconciliation in Rwanda. After enduring years of civil strife, Rwanda has emerged as a country dedicated to ethnic unity. Rwandans have a desire to not rely on charity, but be self-sustaining. Working side by side in the fields and at coffee washing stations, formerly warring countrymen move closer to achieving lasting reconciliation. Coffee growers have a new focus, progress! For every bag of Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee sold, the grower is paid a Living Wage and an additional $1 is invested in a micro-finance program designed to help genocide widows become entrepreneurs in their own communities. By purchasing a 12-ounce bag of Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee, you are investing up to $3 in the Rwandan economy - blessing the work of Rwandans determined to rebuild their country and their hearts.

Catalyst:
So, it is important that we understand what is behind the coffee we are choosing to drink. How did Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee get started?

LTHC:
I (Jonathan Golden) asked one of our Bishops in Rwanda how we could help. He responded that they "had excellent coffee." I was currently working on my Doctorate with a focus on the integration of faith and work and was inspired to take Micah's words in chapter 6, verse 8 to heart, to "Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God." The vision was for Rwandan coffee growers to earn a Living Wage, for the American public to receive excellent coffee, and for money to be given to genocide widows. We ordered our first 20 large sacks of green beans two and a half years ago. I figured that at the very worst, I would be giving it as presents to friends and family for years to come! Instead, the Lord has blessed our work and turned those first few bags of beans into a roasting company that is helping the Rwandan economy as well as being used as an outreach tool by churches here in the States.

Catalyst:
Tell me, is the coffee really that good?

LTHC:
Yes! Rwanda is a country blessed with ideal conditions for growing coffee: rich volcanic soils, high elevations, and plenty of rainfall. Through careful stewardship of resources comes a quality of coffee that ranks among the most valued in the world. Our coffee is consistently rated with a quality of 90% and above. Rwandan coffee is considered to be a specialty coffee and Land of a Thousand Hills carefully roasts each order meticulously and fresh each day.

Catalyst:
So you have high quality coffee that does good in so many different ways. How can the Catalyst Community partner with you in this Rwandan Coffee Project?

LTHC:
You can partner with us in a few ways:
? You can buy a bag of Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee and drink it at your home, church, or work.
? You can get your church to brew our coffee on Sunday mornings.
? You can purchase a ministry kit and begin selling our coffee at your church.
? You can buy our coffee Welcome Bags as gifts to new members or visitors to your church.
? You can purchase Peace baskets and coffee as Christmas gifts.
? You can pray for us!

Catalyst:
At the conference you guys wore some pretty cool red t-shirts. Can anyone get those?

LTHC:
You can buy our "DRINK COFFEE. DO GOOD." T-shirts online at www.drinkcoffeedogood.com. While you are there, make sure you check out our Coffee of the Month Club and Ministry Kits, read stories about widows who have received our microfinance loans, and just learn more about the vision of Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee, where you can do good just by drinking a cup of really good coffee.

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