Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott and Melanie Mormon.
Breaking Free was, at first, just a vision in Scott and Melanie Mormon’s hearts going all the way back to the early 1990s after the Lord had brought much healing and deliverance to their lives from their own battles with addiction and brokenness. By 2005, they opened their first Christ-centered program (what we like to call a'”regeneration program”) for young men coming out of addiction for ages 18-25 in rural Georgia, and felt convinced NOT to charge for any of the services or help offered there, remembering that our lord Jesus gave ALL freely. By 2010, Scott and Melanie saw the need for this type of ministry in North Dallas, where they both grew up, and stepped out in faith to expand the men’s program to Texas, wanting to not only help young men trapped in addiction but also to offer help to their families.
By 2014, after hearing so many people share their burden for young women in similar circumstances, dealing with addiction or other life-controlling issues, Breaking Free took a big step of faith and started the process of training a house parent for a young women’s program. After a year of preparation, Breaking Free took in their first four young ladies into a recovery home at the end of 2014 and hasn’t looked back since. About a year earlier, in 2013, Breaking Free also began it’s mission work in southern Costa Rica, ministering to the very impoverished Ngäbe indigenous people there, as well as to the beautiful Costa Rican people.
So, needless to say, as the ministry needs and expenses were growing for Breaking Free Ministries, Scott and several of the awesome staff at Breaking Free had the vision to start a non-profit coffee shop, hoping to roast, brew, and sell coffee to help cover the cost of so many needs. By 2014, Breaking Free had made its home in the wonderful and welcoming town of Anna, TX, and Breaking Free Coffee Shop opened it’s doors in July of 2016, offering EVERYTHING that other, more well-known, coffee shops offer, but in a unique, warm, and welcoming atmosphere! All of our coffee is freshly roasted right on the premises ensuring the freshest, best quality coffee in the area. But most importantly, this is a coffee shop with a great cause, with 100% of its proceeds going back into the cost of Breaking Free Ministries and those this non-profit ministry serves.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have been many challenges of not only starting a non-profit business from scratch in such an innovative area as Collin County but to also always keep our cause/purpose at the forefront, to offer help to the hurting (from addiction here) or poverty (in Costa Rica). We have never charged those we help a dime, BUT this ministry and its facilities DO cost A LOT, but God has never let us down and we have always been able to pay our bills since the first day we opened our doors, which is such a testament to God’s faithfulness and the support of this wonderful community He has placed us in.
Breaking Free Coffee Shop and Bakery – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Well, the coffee shop is obviously THAT, a great little shop that specializes in its specialty drinks i.e. iced coffee, lattès, and it’s freshly roasted, bagged coffees from various origins which Breaking Free ships in and roasts weekly. We have beans originating from Peru (organic), Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua (also organic) and Guatemala, and in the past have even had coffee from Africa. We believe what sets us apart is our Christ-centered atmosphere, which is very warm and welcoming, and our cause, to help those entrapped or affected by addiction. We love the small town atmosphere that the shop conveys and it is a very relational, community oriented establishment!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
For Breaking Free, success can be defined as continuing to be able to be a beacon of light and hope in our community by reaching the hurting and hopeless, and Breaking Free Coffee Shop is a safe place to do just that while offering great quality products and support to the community so that those suffering because of the epidemic of addiction are not alone in their fight.
Pricing:
- Our 1 lb. bags of coffee cost $15 per bag.
- Our specialty drinks are priced as follows, small-$3, medium-$4, and large $5. safe to say our average price on drinks is $1 lower than the norm.
- We also offer various baked goods, muffins, made from scratch vanilla pound cakes and pumpkin bread, cookies, etc.
Contact Info:
- Address: 501 N. Powell Pkwy
Anna, TX 75409 - Website: www.bfinc.org
- Phone: 972-890-6239 0r 478-357-4299
- Email: scottmormon@bfinc.org
- Instagram: Bfcafe_
- Facebook: Breaking Free Coffee and Bakery
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