A mother-daughter duo from Blue Springs, Mississippi, is fulfilling their dream – one cup of coffee at a time. But for Heather and Cierra Goad, the coffee is just a means to an end: serving and ministering to each customer who comes to the window of their mobile Cup of Faith coffee truck.
The Goads travel across various counties in northeastern Mississippi three to four days per week, and they open the service window of their bright aqua-blue truck, offering a multitude of cold and hot morning beverages, various (and delicious) baked goods, and some sunny smiles – lots of smiles, to be exact.
Mom Heather explained that she and daughter Cierra had long dreamed of opening a coffee shop together, but that dream did not originally involve a large food truck. Instead, they envisioned a brick-and-mortar business, and that dream is still on the back burner. But the idea of purchasing a mobile coffee shop began to take shape in their minds as they saw and enjoyed the delicious offerings from other food trucks.
They had barely voiced the idea of a mobile coffee shop when Heather’s husband (and Cierra’s dad), Brandon, wheeled into their driveway with a used food truck that would eventually become Cup of Faith. Talk about a family affair! Brandon often travels with his wife and daughter as well, making sure the logistics of parking and setting up are easier and safer in the early, dark hours of the morning.
To be honest, Brandon is one of my favorite parts of my weekly Cup of Faith experience. I admire how he readily takes a back seat to his wife and daughter, supporting their dreams with quiet strength and faith in both of them. For me, it is a silent picture of true love.
Of course, I love their coffee too!
Most days, I never have to say a word. They see me standing in line and immediately smile and wave at me. Then, when it’s my turn, they simply ask if I want my usual. And sometimes, I surprise them with a different order, but usually, I say yes to my favorite iced pecan coffee drink. Even though I joyfully drink it year-round, it’s actually called Autumn Grace on the Cup of Faith menu.
All the drinks and treats have similar Bible-based names. In fact, every aspect of this delicious coffee experience is a faith-filled moment of inspiration, from the smiling faces of servers to the encouraging messages penned on each cup to the beautiful wallet-sized printed cards of hope given to every customer to the miniature Jesus figurines waiting to be picked up and shared with others throughout the day.
Nobody leaves the Cup of Faith truck without feeling seen and cared for. Perhaps the motto displayed on the Cup of Faith Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/p/Cup-of-Faith-61582959151415/) says it best: “We are a mobile coffee shop where our guests can fill up on hope, faith, and love … one cup at a time!”
