The Not Just Coffee (NJC) Project is more than just a creative outreach initiative—it is a vital evangelistic tool for TCI’s students and alumni as they engage in ministry across Central Asia. NJC provides a unique and effective way to start meaningful conversations about faith in a region where traditional evangelism can be challenging. By gathering people around a cup of coffee, our students and ministry partners create a welcoming space for discussions on life, purpose, and the Gospel.
Through NJC, TCI-trained leaders are equipped with practical tools to connect with those who may never step into a church. As alumni take this project into their communities, they are finding new ways to build relationships, plant seeds of faith, and introduce people to Jesus. The impact of this initiative is already visible, as many who first encounter Christianity through NJC are now taking steps toward deeper spiritual exploration. With every conversation shared over coffee—or soon, tea—the Gospel is reaching hearts that may have otherwise remained untouched.
Over the last quarter, our partners successfully produced 1,400 packs of Not Just Coffee set in Tajik, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Kazakh languages. These resources have been instrumental in creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue about faith.
To further the impact of the project, our students and partners have conducted presentations for church pastors in these regions, sharing the vision of NJC and demonstrating how it can be used to engage young people. As a result of these meetings, national teams of project participants have been formed. Ministry teams are now actively working in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, where they have received training on how to effectively use NJC in outreach. A team in Tajikistan is currently being prepared, and we are eager to see the opportunities this will create.
NJC Training participants in one of the Central Asia countries
We have begun collecting reports from Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, where NJC was first launched. The feedback has been incredibly encouraging, with many participants engaging in deep conversations that have sparked spiritual curiosity and, in some cases, a deeper commitment to exploring Christianity. Below are just a few examples of how NJC is making a difference.
Firuz’s Journey to Faith
Firuz, a young man from a Muslim background, attended all five NJC meetings with one of our team leaders in Kyrgyzstan. Throughout the meetings, Firuz engaged in deep discussions about life, faith, and purpose. By the final meeting, he expressed a genuine desire to learn more about Christianity. Since then, he has started attending a home Bible study group and recently participated in his first church service. His journey is just beginning, and we pray that God will continue to work in his heart.
The Story of Kunduz, Valeria, and Malika
During an NJC training in Kazakhstan, our leaders met three young women—Kunduz, Valeria, and Malika—who had come to a coffee shop to buy coffee. Curious about the project, they struck up a conversation with our project leaders, who invited them to join a series of NJC meetings.
Kunduz has attended two meetings so far and has also visited a home group several times. She shared that she had Christian friends who introduced her to the faith in the past, and she now feels drawn to learn more.
Valeria and Malika have already completed three NJC meetings. In late January, they attended an evangelical church service for the first time. We continue to meet with them and pray that this encounter with the Gospel will lead to transformation in their lives.
These testimonies are just the beginning of what God is doing through NJC. With each cup of coffee shared, new relationships are formed, and people are introduced to the hope of the Gospel.