Roseline Twagiramariya
Issue date: 10/30/08
Section: Diversions
While some spent last Saturday night watching the latest installment of “Saw,” the members of the ConneXion Christian Community Church were hosting another night of the ConneXion Coffeehouse.
The Coffeehouse, an event hosted by the church about every six weeks, is a night filled with performances ranging from skits and poetry readings to singing and dancing. And then there’s the frappuccino.
“We started doing this about four years ago, and it all kind of happened accidentally, really,” said Bud Fox, pastor of the ConneXion Christian Community.
The idea originated with group jam sessions at the church, Fox said. Members eventually decided to turn the sessions into a show.
That event evolved into the coffeehouse.
“It was an idea that resonated in our group because we have a lot of people who are interested in the arts of various sorts,” Fox said.
The coffeehouse gives community members a way to come together and showcase their talent. It’s open to anyone who wants to participate.
Events were first centered around a theme, but Fox said that after they stopped the themes, more people felt they had more options for their performances.
“The only requirement is that it is family-friendly,” Fox said.
Aromas of various coffee drinks and finger foods served at the Coffeehouse greet you at the door. Fox describes the atmosphere as being akin to a large family reunion, and it’s bustling with movement and excitement from the performers and the attendees.
The main performers are members of the church and the community. Fox said he was surprised at how easy it was to get people to participate, whether by performing or attending.
One of the performances highlighted last Saturday was Bowling Green freshman Alec Vinsant, who is a singer, songwriter and veteran ConneXion performer.
“It’s definitely exciting,” he said.
Vinsant is part of a band, Vinsanity, but mainly does solo work. When he isn’t performing at the ConneXion, he’s found at other coffeehouses in Bowling Green.
Other performances featured Fox and his three daughters, the Fox String Trio, a skit and other singers and songwriters.
Brian Lipp, who will be attending Western in fall 2009, mostly likes to attend the ConneXion Coffeehouse to support his younger sister, Rachel Lipp, who plays drums.
“It definitely makes me jealous seeing her up there, but mostly proud of her,” he said.
To make sure that more young performers, such as Rachel, get their chance, the ConneXion also hosts an event called Young Artists, a show featuring high school-aged students and younger. About a year ago, members introduced bands for the first time, and that began to generate a heavier population of teens as attendees and performers.
Like Brian, most people come to see familiar faces and spend time with family and friends, a togetherness on which the church prides itself. The ConneXion Community Church is a church based on the Bible and is part of the Christian Missionary Alliance.
“We like to think of ourselves as an extended spiritual family, as opposed to an organization,” Fox said. “We try to structure who we are and what we do in a way that allows for more relational time.”
The members meet on Saturday evenings, as opposed to Sunday mornings because it works best for everyone. On a typical Saturday night, they meet and share a meal together, have Bible study and then break up into small discussion groups.
“The focus for that is that no one comes and feels like they are just watching,” Fox said.
Students at Western have also been part of the ConneXion. However, the attendance isn’t what it used to be. Most of the student members have been graduate students who are usually there for a short period of time and leave once they graduate. Fox said that he would love to tap into the Western community a lot more, especially the undergraduate population, but finds that transportation is usually a problem.
Even so, he believes whether it’s watching your friend play or enjoying the food and conversation, there is something for everyone to enjoy at the ConneXion Coffeehouse.
