Youth-Owned, Faith-Driven: Launching the First Junior Java Café

What started as a vision became a reality inside the walls of Central Baptist Church. In 2023, we launched the very first Junior Java Café—a student-run, faith-driven café designed not only to serve great coffee and tea but to create real impact within our community.

As the Founder and CEO of Junior Java, I’ve always believed that entrepreneurship can be more than a business. It can be a ministry. The café was built on that belief, powered by a partnership between youth leadership and the church community that raised me.

A Business With Purpose

The Junior Java Café isn’t your typical church coffee stand. It’s a fully branded, operational youth-led business that donates a portion of its profits to support ministry programs, scholarships, and school supply drives. Since opening, the café has already raised over $5,000 for Central Baptist Church’s youth ministry, directly funding retreats, service projects, and leadership development programs.

What Makes It Different

What makes the Junior Java Café model special is its structure. Youth are involved at every level—from customer service to setup, budgeting, inventory, and marketing. It’s hands-on entrepreneurship in a faith-centered environment, giving students practical business experience while reinforcing the value of stewardship, discipline, and giving back.

Each café startup includes a full setup package: equipment, signage, and product inventory, along with mentorship and training to help youth teams succeed. It’s not just a pop-up. It’s a launchpad.

Powered by Faith, Driven by Impact

Our café exists inside the sanctuary, but its purpose reaches far beyond it. Through every brewed cup, we’re building a model that can be replicated in churches across the country. This empowers youth ministries to raise funds, develop leadership, and engage their communities through entrepreneurship.

This is only the beginning. With plans to launch two more cafés in 2025, the Junior Java Café model is on track to become a movement—where purpose meets profit and faith fuels every pour.

Interested in bringing the Junior Java Café to your church or community? Reach out through our Contact form to learn how we can partner.