This fundraiser has ended. Thanks to all who participated! If you’d like to learn more about our ministry or make a donation, please visit LivingbyDesign.org/Donate.
Article by: Sarah Koontz
Have you ever showed up at a coffee shop, placed your order for a drink, grabbed your wallet to pay, only to discover that someone else has covered the cost of your order?
Nothing softens the soul like the random act of kindness of a complete stranger, except maybe a not-so-random act of kindness of a beloved friend.
As a Christian, I see a thread of the gospel of Jesus Christ in this simple idea of paying for a stranger’s cup of coffee.
Selfless love and sacrifice for someone you may never know tethered to the hope that they will pass along the kindness to another.
The gospel served in a cup, what a beautiful thing!
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.” Revelation 21:6b NASB
As a Christian, I see a thread of the gospel of Jesus Christ in this simple idea of paying for a stranger's cup of coffee.
The Birth of the “Pay it Forward” Movement
So, how did this “Pay it Forward” movement take on the modern coffeehouse spin so many of us have experienced in recent years?
As far as I can tell, it is the brain-child of an Irishman named John Sweeney.
On March 27, 2013, John started a Facebook page called Suspended Coffees.
The idea of paying ahead for a “suspended coffee” to give to someone who couldn’t otherwise afford it can be traced back to Naples, Italy—where it is now common practice.
Sweeney’s call to action was simple: Buy a cup of coffee for a stranger, because an act of kindness can change a life.
This is how we need to approach our Christian life!
I don’t get to spend much time at coffee shops these days, but I had my very own “suspended coffee” experience a while back.
And do you want to know what went through my mind?
“Wow! There are still good-hearted people on this earth. Thank you, Lord, for reminding me that goodness and kindness still exist in this crazy world.”
What Christ has done for us is something we can never pay back, but we can share His love with others.My personal suspended coffee experience got me looking for ways to “Pay it Forward” in my day-to-day life.
Because isn’t that exactly what Jesus Christ has done for us?
What Christ has done for us is something we can never pay back—and in response to this, we are called to show His love by seeking out those around us that we can pay it forward to.
“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us— not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:4-5 HCSB
Our Mug on a Mission Fundraiser was inspired by and created for “Pay it Forward” people.
The Big Idea Behind “Mug on a Mission”
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 HCSB
There is a fierce spiritual battle raging for the hearts and affections of God’s people.
The enemy has targeted the Church, and our communal lack of biblical knowledge has left us vulnerable and exposed.
The only offensive weapon included in the armor of God (Eph. 6:10-18) is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
If we do not know the Word, we will not be equipped to fight back against the schemes of evil one!
There is a fierce spiritual battle raging for the hearts and affections of God's people.Take a moment to think of the people in your local community, workplace, and church.
Do you know how many of them are engaging in consistent Bible study?
According to the Barna Research Group, just 14% of the population in our country reads their Bibles daily. The same research shows that 1/3 of the population reads their Bibles weekly.
This means that approximately 2/3 of the people you come into contact with on a regular basis are not consistently reading their Bible.
Yet, a majority of Americans (66%) express at least some curiosity to know more about what the Bible says, including one in three (29%) who express a strong desire.
Maybe, the only thing standing between these people and the freeing truth of the Bible is a friend who is willing to study by their side.
We know that the idea of inviting a friend to do Bible study can be intimidating, so we’ve created free online Bible studies and a selection of inspirational mugs to do the work for you.
These mugs are on a mission to help you share the TRUTH of God’s Word with your local community!
This fundraiser has ended. Thanks to all who participated! If you’d like to learn more about our ministry or make a donation, please visit LivingbyDesign.org/Donate.
Shop Our Exclusive “2020 Mug on a Mission” Designs
Our exclusive 2020 mug designs were hand-lettered by Neely Beattie and inspired by one of our favorite Bible verses from the free DWELL360 Bible study (released in January): “Dwell in the Shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1
These mugs sell for $30 + $5 S/H, and each mug sale generates a $15 donation to our ministry. These funds help us continue to deliver FREE Bible study material to inboxes around the world.
PAY IT FORWARD by purchasing a set of three mugs to share with friends and community organizations!
We are able to ship to USA, UK, and Canada. If you live outside the USA, be sure to add the“international shipping fee” to your cart. We only have 150 mugs to sell this year, and once they sell out, they are gone forever.
Place your orders early! These mugs make excellent, encouraging gifts for quarantined friends and family.
Select your favorite mug design below, and click the image to begin your order.
These mugs are on a mission to help you share the TRUTH of God’s Word with your local community!
We know that the idea of inviting a friend to do Bible study can be intimidating, so we’ve created free online Bible studies and a selection of inspirational mugs to do the work for you.
Because our studies are packed with spiritual nourishment and delivered to individual inboxes on a daily basis, you can invite others to participate without fear of overcommitting your limited time and resources.
In this way, the free online format of the Living by Design Bible studies encourages discipleship and evangelism simultaneously.
The free online format of the Living by Design Bible studies encourages discipleship and evangelism simultaneously.Each mug design includes an inspirational message AND the URL of our online ministry. We’ve also created beautiful postcard-sized fliers for you to print and share with the mugs.
FREE Bible Study Material + Cute Inspirational Mugs = A Fun Way to Pay It Forward!
Just imagine the impact a single “Mug on a Mission” might have if…
- You used it to serve coffee to friends and neighbors.
- You donated it to the local homeless shelter.
- You gifted it to a friend who is struggling.
Envision the conversations it might begin, the relationships it might build, the conversions it might bring.
I can see it now!
Warm beverages soothing weary souls and Bible study nourishing parched spirits—what a dynamic combination.
Will you support our ministry by purchasing a 'Mug on a Mission' to share God's Word with a hurting world today?When you gift one of these mugs to a friend, or use it to serve guests in your home, you are creating an opportunity for Christ to enter the conversation.
When you buy a set of mugs to donate to your church or local charity organization, you are kindling the fire of change in your community.
Will you support our ministry by purchasing a “Mug on a Mission” to share God’s Word with a hurting world today?
This fundraiser has ended. Thanks to all who participated! If you’d like to learn more about our ministry or make a donation, please visit LivingbyDesign.org/Donate.
Learn More about Living by Design Ministries
Bible literacy is declining at a rapid rate in our culture, and Living by Design Ministries exists to stem the tide. By providing free online resources to help Christians better engage with the biblical text, we are tackling the problem of Bible literacy head-on.
True biblical knowledge is the aim of all our programs at Living by Design Ministries. Our primary function is to build a bridge between professing Christians and the Bible. We exist to help believers of all ages open their Bibles, understand what they are reading, and apply the freeing truths to their lives. {Read our 2019 Impact Report}
At Living by Design Ministries, we believe God’s Word is the only source of absolute truth in a world that praises tolerance and ambiguity. That is why we strive to deliver biblically accurate, relatable, story-driven content to our readers each week. We help Christians grow in their knowledge and understanding of God’s Word, while also equipping them to evangelize to their friends and family by sharing our free resources online.
Bible literacy is declining at a rapid rate in our culture, and Living by Design Ministries exists to stem the tide.The heartbeat of our ministry is offering free online Bible studies. But they aren’t really free. Each of our free Bible studies cost $5,000-$10,000 to develop and distribute. In order to continue to freely give our Bible studies away, we have to humbly ask our brothers and sisters in Christ to faithfully support the mission and vision of Living by Design Ministries.
We are looking for members of our online community to partner with us, so that we can grow with the need and continue to proclaim Jesus to a hurting world. With your help, we can cultivate the resources we need to reach more women with the only truth that sustains—the Bible!
How would you like to support?
