Connecting Over Coffee

Need someone to talk to? You can often find them over a cup of coffee! The ministry of Holy Grounds offers not only delicious fare, but a place to connect. It’s where Abe and Dustie Walton, new Anderson area residents, connected to MPC—so much so that they recently became new managers of Holy Grounds operations. Threads caught up with the Waltons and asked them a few questions about this special blend.

Threads: It’s great to find new people moving into the Anderson area. What brings you here?

Dustie: My husband, Dr. Abram Walton (Abe), teaches at the Purdue Extension connected with Anderson University. He is a professor of Institutional Technology and Business Management and taught at Purdue in West Lafayette from 2004 until this school year.

Threads: So, is West Lafayette your home area?

Dustie: No, we were born and raised in Whidbey Island, Washington.

Threads: Just where is Whidbey Island.

Dustie: It is just north of Seattle, the largest island in Puget Sound.

Threads: O yes, we’ve heard of Seattle!

Dustie: Actually, the first Sunday we visited at MPC Pastor Jim talked in his sermon about how much he loved Seattle and visualized the terrain and vegetation and my husband said we were coming back here!

Threads: How did you find MPC?

Dustie: We visited several churches in Fishers and we saw MPC from I-69 and decided to check it out. We strolled in the first Sunday, saw the coffee place and were welcomed and taken to the children’s center. We were immediately impressed with the check in and out process for our girls, two year old Lorelei and eleven month old Briley. I felt a sense of safety at leaving our little girls in their care giving me great comfort and that process was very meaningful to our decision to call MPC our church home.

Threads: You have quickly become involved in ministry at MPC.

Dustie: Yes, we very soon met Gretchen (Junior High Ministries Pastor) from Seattle and then other people at MPC who are also from the Seattle area. It is great to connect with someone from home. Since the first of the year we have been working in the Junior High Ministries and really enjoy it. Our children love all the classes and activities and we are excited about the Easter Eggstravaganza.

Threads: But Holy Grounds is your connection point and now you are the new managers and learning how to make all those delicious concoctions.

Dustie: Yes, we are working closely with Natalie Farmer, as she is moving on to other areas of ministry. We were managers for three years at a similar coffee place at our church in West Lafayette. My mother owned a coffee place in Washington and I worked in it throughout high school so it is a place where I feel very comfortable.

Threads: Two little girls keep you very busy and now your ministries at MPC do you have time for anything else?

Dustie: In Washington I worked as a dental assistant for about five years. After moving to Indiana I worked for one year to establish my residence license then I went to Purdue and got a degree in Organizational Leadership and Entrepreneurship and Innovation. I manage several rental properties we acquired while in West Lafayette.

Threads: We are so happy to have you as part of the MPC family. Moving to a new location and especially a new part of the country and leaving your family is often very difficult and we hope you will soon feel this is home and make a great circle of friends.

Dustie: We love everything about Madison Park Church and are thankful we found a church home for our girls as well as our future.

Come early or linger after the worship service to meet Abe and Dustie, enjoy conversation and refreshments. Holy Grounds serves gourmet coffee, specialty drinks, assorted pastries, and more. Proceeds benefit missions at home and around the world. Holy Grounds is located in The Commons. Open Sundays, 8:30am—11:30am. MasterCard, Visa and Discover accepted.