Joining Faith & Fair Trade
“Equal Exchange is like drinking a cup of justice...
And justice can taste outstanding.”
Timothy Bernard, Messiah Lutheran Church
Around the world coffee and fellowship come together where we share community. A warm pot of coffee is often the centerpiece of fellowship hour and other gatherings. As the second most heavily traded commodity in the world after oil, coffee is a direct link between our community and farming communities in Latin America, Africa and Asia.
Yet the small farmers who grow our coffee often struggle just to make a simple
living. Most live in rural communities in some of the poorest countries in Latin
America, Africa and Asia. Isolated from markets, they are forced to accept low
prices. Without affordable credit, they become trapped in cycle of debt. Many
lack access to adequate housing, healthcare and education.
But there is an alternative. In partnership with congregations Equal Exchange’s
Interfaith Coffee Program is a bridge between these communities and our own.
By paying a fair price, working with democratic cooperatives, offering affordable
credit and supporting sustainable agriculture, Equal Exchange helps farmers
to build better lives for themselves and their families.
With your purchase of Equal Exchange fairly traded coffee, you can share fellowship with our neighbors in coffee-growing countries, making a difference in their lives while enjoying a delicious cup of coffee. Through the program, farmers earn a fair price for their products, receive affordable credit, and gain a long-term trading partner that they can trust. By pooling their resources in democratic cooperatives, farmers are able to invest in training, health care, and agricultural improvements in their communities. Every cup you serve is a cup of justice.
A variety of coffees are available for purchase at Christ the King Church after Sunday services or through the church offices during the week.