At Deep Time, coffee isn’t a religion. But the people there do have an awful lot of faith in it.
On a lazy Thursday morning at the Deep Time coffee shop, artist Destiny Varner shows off her drawing of a skeletal hand gripping a red coffee cup. The arm is chained and the drawing includes the words “DEEP TIME NOT HARD TIME.”
It’s a motif frequently used on Deep Time merchandise.
“The skeleton signifies death,” explained Mercy Rodriquez, Deep Time’s operations manager and a Navy veteran, as she returned from a smoke break outside the shop, which is located within Trinity United Methodist Church.
“The coffee is a rejuvenation that brings you back to life.”
The theology there might be a little iffy, but coffee as a unifier is inarguably central to this ministry. It was founded and is run by the Rev. Dustin Mailman, pastor of family ministries and missions at Trinity United Methodist.
Varner spent six years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine, which she was addicted to at the time.
Varner heard about Deep Time from a coworker at a factory making Volkswagen engine blocks — her first job after prison.
“I was really interested,” she said. “For one, I love coffee. For two, I like the concept of the mission.”
Returning Citizens Find Hope Through Coffee Ministry
Coffee is the conduit for Deep Time to employ returning citizens and justice-impacted young people to help ease their journey back to society. It started as a small home-roasting operation and Fresh Expressions worship service at the Buncombe County Detention Center and then moved to importing and selling various coffees that were roasted at the church. The coffee products got publicity from pop-up events around Asheville, especially in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
Mailman has a policy of hiring people “if they have the worst résumé possible.” That usually means they’ve spent time in prison.
Regarding his hiring practices, Mailman explained his interest in prisoner rehabilitation goes back to when he was a teenager.
“I was a volunteer chaplain at the (Watauga County, N.C.) jail, so I’d go and I would lead worship gatherings at the jail,” he said. “In hindsight, it was kind of ridiculous. I was, like, 19 years old.”
Mailman was inspired by Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles and Thistle Farms in Nashville, Tennessee. Homeboy provides job training for former gang members and ex-convicts, while Thistle Farms assists former prostitutes to leave that life by providing counseling, job opportunities, free housing and health care.
“We started exploring, ‘What’s an industry in Asheville that homeless folks are chronically uninvited from? We landed on specialty coffee.”
Mailman has ambitious plans for Deep Time. He would like to open three or more coffee shops or cafes around Asheville.
His wish list also includes a transportation service to help people get to work and some sort of worship experience at the cafes.
“When we bring on the next round of sojourners, there’s going to be significantly more structure,” Mailman said. “Our first 2½ years has been … seat of your pants, let’s get it done. Now we have an opportunity to be really strategic.”
Your Generosity Helps Others
By supporting your local congregation’s outreach ministries, you impact lives of your surrounding communities and those around the world. No matter what part of the world we live in, your generosity can reach across oceans and help churches like Trinity United Methodist in Asheville, NC help those that are marginalized.
excerpt from a story by Jim Patterson, UM News reporter, Nashville, Tennessee. Photos by Mike DuBose
This story represents how United Methodist local churches through their Annual Conferences are living as Vital Congregations. The overarching purpose of The United Methodist Church is to "make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." A vital congregation is one that is effectively engaged in this mission. Together, we become a powerful force for healing, growth, and transformation—living out the Gospel in every corner of the globe.
