By SHELBA NIVENS / Community Columnist

David and Terri Williams, new owners of Ekklesia Coffee House in Chelsea, were married last month.

Terri had lived in Shelby County for 18 years and in Chelsea for five. David lived in Prattville. Both worked for AT&T, David as an advertising executive, traveling south central Alabama, Terri as regional director, a position she still holds.

One of the things that attracted them to each other was a shared passion for the Lord. David said, “It has been his mercy and grace that allowed two broken roads to meet and join one another to begin the next phase of our lives.”

During the summer of 2011 David was recovering from major back surgery when Terri heard Ekklesia was closing. “Bells and whistles began going off in our heads and doors began to open,” David said.

It seemed a great place for him to get off the road, slow down with lingering back problems and become involved in the community.

He is operator of the coffee house, with help from three capable young people, Brett Copper, Masie Barnhill and Regan Cooley.

They serve coffees, smoothies, soups, loaded baked potatoes, hot paninis, chicken salad, pimento cheese sandwiches, and more. Favorite flavored coffees? Nutty Italian and Jamaica Me Crazy.

With advance notice, they deliver to local schools and businesses.

Free Wi-Fi, personal one-on-ones, business, church, club, showers and other meetings take place in their comfy meeting area. Their goal? To “provide a warm satisfaction and a great cup of coffee.”

“We have a dog named Sarah (that) was a patron of the coffee house long before I was,” said David. “When we go for walks she still wants to head in the direction of the coffee house.”

David Williams has three children, Lauren and Andrew, students at Auburn University, and Hasten, a senior at Lee-Scott Academy in Auburn.

He and Terri attend Double Oak Community Church, where Terri has belonged seven years and sings on the praise team. David joined a few weeks ago.

God plays a role in everything they do, David said “We continually seek his guidance every step of the way in our life, whether it’s the kids, future plans or just the day-to-day. We humbly rely on him daily for his wisdom in order to play the roles he assigns us today.”

Ekklesia hours are Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m.-7 p.m; Saturday 7 a.m.-6 p.m.

For information or to schedule meetings: Facebook, or 678-4444.

Shelba Nivens can be reached by email at Shelbasn@juno.com.