When you sit across from Rob Touchstone, you quickly realize that coffee is just the medium. The real story is about connection, purpose and faith lived out loud. From roots in youth ministry to the founding of The Well Coffeehouse, Touchstone’s journey epitomizes how business and mission can meld seamlessly when love and intention are in the driver’s seat. A graduate of Lipscomb University in the late 1990s, Rob Touchstone majored in Bible and Youth Ministry, a natural fit for someone drawn to serving others. He began his career as a youth minister in Alabama before moving to Tennessee, where experiences within the church became both inspiring and challenging. While his work nurturing the youth was rewarding, Touchstone grew increasingly uncomfortable with the insulation of the church. “It often felt like we were coddling those already inside rather than reaching out to those outside,” he reflected. That realization would become a defining pivot point. He started taking his youth group to a local Starbucks instead of holding gatherings within the church walls. The casual, conversational atmosphere opened up deeper and more authentic conversations and drew attention. Often, strangers approached him and his students, inquiring about what was happening. Those encounters planted a seed: what if faith could be lived out in everyday spaces, over something as simple as a cup of coffee? That seed grew into The Well Coffeehouse, not just another coffee shop but a designed space to break down barriers and build community. The mission was simple yet profound: create a space where people connect, while using business to fund tangible good in the world. The name “The Well” carries a double entendre. It reflects the company’s commitment to providing clean water through its profits and evokes the biblical image of the well as a place of encounter, inspired by the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well. Just as that well became a place of connection and transformation, The Well Coffeehouse aims to be a space where people gather, share, and experience community. Their vision statement, “We love coffee, We love people even more,” was coined by Touchstone with conviction, capturing the heart of both mission and ministry. When he launched The Well at 37, it wasn’t from a place of comfort, but conviction. “We were living paycheck to paycheck,” he recalled. With a dream and a prayer, he approached a church member for help after “praying in circles.” That man donated $30,000, and Touchstone and his team fundraised the remaining $50,000 of their $80,000 startup budget. They rented an old Burger King for $2,000 a month and repurposed it as their first café. The community, against all odds, showed up and never stopped coming. After just 18 months, the building was demolished, and it seemed like the end of The Well’s story. Instead, it became a new beginning. The team found two new locations, one in Brentwood and another across from Lipscomb University in Green Hills, and decided to open both. From there, it snowballed. Their third store opened in Bellevue, and soon, opportunities started coming to them. The fourth location in Indiana came to be when someone reached out and asked if they would consider opening a Well there. Later, the same thing happened with a mall location in Cool Springs, another request from people who believed in the mission and wanted to bring it to their community. Each new store amplified their impact, and allowed them to build an even stronger team, including eventually hiring a CEO and building what Touchstone described – not realizing his own pun – as a “well-oiled machine.” This sets The Well’s model apart for more than just great coffee. The company pays a certified living wage and works directly with coffee farmers to ensure fair compensation. The statement, “Create impact,” remains at the heart of every decision. Touchstone and his team now hope to create a sustainable business model that could one day inspire or lead to hundreds of similar stores. The goal is not to replicate a big chain like Starbucks, but to multiply that kind of meaningful, Christ-centered community found in their existing locations. Touchstone himself does not take one dime of profit from The Well. For him, it has always been about the impact, not about the income. Even as the business flourished, Touchstone never left behind his pastoral heart. In 2014, he started holding Sunday services inside The Well for those without a church home. His approach to ministry-one of love rather than condemnation-resonated deeply with many. It wasn’t long before his work again caught the attention of Lipscomb University. Ray Eldridge, now former Dean of the College of Business, asked Touchstone to come speak to students about how they could integrate their faith and work. That invitation became a full-time calling. Eldridge asked Touchstone to establish an academic center, “The Center for Business as Mission,” which would explore how business can serve both profit and purpose. Touchstone led the center until 2022, when President Candice McQueen encouraged him to expand his vision further by helping launch the “Center for Vocational Discovery,” dedicated to helping students discern calling and meaning in their professional lives. Outside of teaching and writing, Touchstone has maintained a busy entrepreneurial life, though he still manages to preach part-time. He served at a church in Nolensville for 4 years and still guest preaches at churches across the Nashville area. For him, these moments of teaching and connection remain grounding. He summarizes his philosophy succinctly: faith should be lived and not spoken of; it should show in the way we love, serve, and create opportunities for people to flourish. It’s not about building a network of coffeehouses, or leading university initiatives for Rob Touchstone. It’s about connecting the dots between sacred and secular spaces, proving that mission can live in the marketplace, and that compassion can fuel commerce. When asked what propels him forward, he doesn’t refer to profit margins or plans for expansion. He talks about hope. “Hope for growth,” he says, not just for The Well or for his students, but for anyone looking to find meaning in what they do. As Touchstone says, “My vocational journey has helped me to see that all work is sacred and an opportunity to live on mission. Whether in a church, coffee house, or classroom, I am so thankful for the work I get to do as a way to partner with God in the work he’s already doing.” In the end, it all comes full circle. A simple cup of coffee, when brewed with intention, can create an impact far beyond what we can imagine.
This afternoon, Mississippi State women’s soccer announced that Lipscomb women’s soccer Head Coach Kevin O’Brien would be coming to coach for the Bulldogs. O’Brien recently led the Bisons to their second consecutive ASUN Championship victory this season. He also took them back to the NCAA Tournament, where they beat Mississippi State 1-0 in the first round. O’Brien also won the ASUN Coach of the Year award for the 2025 season, making it his fifth career ASUN Coach of the Year. After 14 seasons coaching women’s soccer at Lipscomb, O’Brien is the winningest head coach in program history. He boasts more than 150 career victories, having reached that milestone this season. Lipscomb women’s soccer says that “O’Brien has elevated the Lady Bisons into the national conversation and established Lipscomb as one of the premier mid-major programs in NCAA Division I women’s soccer.” “Under O’Brien’s leadership, the Bisons have captured 12 ASUN championships in the past nine seasons, including five ASUN Tournament titles and seven ASUN Regular Season championships. He has guided the program to five NCAA Tournament appearances, solidifying Lipscomb as a consistent postseason contender,” says Lipscomb women’s soccer. Mississippi State referred to O’Brien as “a proven winner” in their announcement. O’Brien has brought much to Lipscomb’s team over the seasons, molding young women in their sport and their faith. He has coached 50+ All-Conference performers, 15 All-Freshmen honorees, 32 All-Academic selections, and 45 ASUN Players of the Week. He is among the top 50 winningest active coaches in NCAA Division I, with a career record of 155-81-37. In 2018, his staff earned one of the nation’s highest honors as the United Soccer Coaches South Region Staff of the Year. O’Brien will be Mississippi States’ women’s soccer’s eighth head coach in program history, and Lipscomb will begin their search for a new women’s soccer head coach.
As federal SNAP benefits remain limited, the conversation about food insecurity is growing. Dr. Autumn Marshall, chair of Lipscomb’s Department of Nutrition and a registered dietitian, said people underestimate how common food insecurity is on college campuses. “I was really surprised when I did some digging on this, that about 19% of college students experience some level of food insecurity,” Marshall said. “Typically, the ones who live on campus, that’s not a problem because they’re required to have a meal plan. But students who move off campus to save money or who are living at home may be experiencing food insecurity, especially if they’re not able to work as much because they’re in school.” This year, Lipscomb created the Nourish Nook, a small food resource space located in the Office of Student Success and Well-Being. It provides microwavable meals and snacks for students who don’t have easy access to food options. Students can take up to five items every two weeks, after completing a check-in form. “When you’re hungry, you can’t concentrate in class,” Marshall said. “And, you know, we’ve seen this in little kids. That was the whole reason for the creation of school lunch and school breakfast programs was to make sure that kids weren’t sitting in class, not able to pay attention because they’re so hungry. So this just kind of brings it up to the college level.” Marshall said the rising cost of groceries and limited time to work while in school creates barriers for many students who live off campus. Some juggle multiple jobs, and that reduces the time they have to study. “I’m sure that we do have students whose families have been on SNAP benefits,” she said. “They may be here on scholarship, but that means there’s no money left over for food. So that is complicated by the government shutdown and the limit to payments.” Marshall explained that SNAP benefits are based on the federal Thrifty Food Plan, which sets the lowest-cost model for feeding a household. “The thrifty food plan is supposed to be based on the Consumer Price Index, and it’s designed to provide adequate food for the least amount of money possible. So if you look at the Thrifty Food Plan, it will tell you this is the amount of money we’re going to give per week for a family of four. And then it will define the family of four as two adults and two children under the age of 18.” Lipscomb also participates in Swipe Out Hunger, a program run through Sodexo where students can donate unused meal swipes to peers who may not have enough meals. “It provides for students who can’t afford the biggest meal plan,” Marshall said. “Sodexo manages all of that and helps students who are in need get some extra meals.” Marshall said she sees a rising need both in Nashville and nationally. She volunteers regularly with Room in the Inn, where shelters and food pantries have been strained by increased demand. “If you are a college student experiencing food insecurity, please explore the options that are available through Student Life,” she said. “Education is key, and I don’t think a lot of people get the nutrition education they need.”
When you sit across from Rob Touchstone, you quickly realize that coffee is just the medium. The real story is about connection, purpose and faith lived out loud. From roots in youth ministry to the founding of The Well Coffeehouse, Touchstone’s journey epitomizes how business and mission can meld seamlessly when love and intention are in the driver’s seat. A graduate of Lipscomb University in the late 1990s, Rob Touchstone majored in Bible and Youth Ministry, a natural fit for someone drawn to serving others. He began his career as a youth minister in Alabama before moving to Tennessee, where experiences within the church became both inspiring and challenging. While his work nurturing the youth was rewarding, Touchstone grew increasingly uncomfortable with the insulation of the church. “It often felt like we were coddling those already inside rather than reaching out to those outside,” he reflected. That realization would become a defining pivot point. He started taking his youth group to a local Starbucks instead of holding gatherings within the church walls. The casual, conversational atmosphere opened up deeper and more authentic conversations and drew attention. Often, strangers approached him and his students, inquiring about what was happening. Those encounters planted a seed: what if faith could be lived out in everyday spaces, over something as simple as a cup of coffee? That seed grew into The Well Coffeehouse, not just another coffee shop but a designed space to break down barriers and build community. The mission was simple yet profound: create a space where people connect, while using business to fund tangible good in the world. The name “The Well” carries a double entendre. It reflects the company’s commitment to providing clean water through its profits and evokes the biblical image of the well as a place of encounter, inspired by the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well. Just as that well became a place of connection and transformation, The Well Coffeehouse aims to be a space where people gather, share, and experience community. Their vision statement, “We love coffee, We love people even more,” was coined by Touchstone with conviction, capturing the heart of both mission and ministry. When he launched The Well at 37, it wasn’t from a place of comfort, but conviction. “We were living paycheck to paycheck,” he recalled. With a dream and a prayer, he approached a church member for help after “praying in circles.” That man donated $30,000, and Touchstone and his team fundraised the remaining $50,000 of their $80,000 startup budget. They rented an old Burger King for $2,000 a month and repurposed it as their first café. The community, against all odds, showed up and never stopped coming. After just 18 months, the building was demolished, and it seemed like the end of The Well’s story. Instead, it became a new beginning. The team found two new locations, one in Brentwood and another across from Lipscomb University in Green Hills, and decided to open both. From there, it snowballed. Their third store opened in Bellevue, and soon, opportunities started coming to them. The fourth location in Indiana came to be when someone reached out and asked if they would consider opening a Well there. Later, the same thing happened with a mall location in Cool Springs, another request from people who believed in the mission and wanted to bring it to their community. Each new store amplified their impact, and allowed them to build an even stronger team, including eventually hiring a CEO and building what Touchstone described – not realizing his own pun – as a “well-oiled machine.” This sets The Well’s model apart for more than just great coffee. The company pays a certified living wage and works directly with coffee farmers to ensure fair compensation. The statement, “Create impact,” remains at the heart of every decision. Touchstone and his team now hope to create a sustainable business model that could one day inspire or lead to hundreds of similar stores. The goal is not to replicate a big chain like Starbucks, but to multiply that kind of meaningful, Christ-centered community found in their existing locations. Touchstone himself does not take one dime of profit from The Well. For him, it has always been about the impact, not about the income. Even as the business flourished, Touchstone never left behind his pastoral heart. In 2014, he started holding Sunday services inside The Well for those without a church home. His approach to ministry-one of love rather than condemnation-resonated deeply with many. It wasn’t long before his work again caught the attention of Lipscomb University. Ray Eldridge, now former Dean of the College of Business, asked Touchstone to come speak to students about how they could integrate their faith and work. That invitation became a full-time calling. Eldridge asked Touchstone to establish an academic center, “The Center for Business as Mission,” which would explore how business can serve both profit and purpose. Touchstone led the center until 2022, when President Candice McQueen encouraged him to expand his vision further by helping launch the “Center for Vocational Discovery,” dedicated to helping students discern calling and meaning in their professional lives. Outside of teaching and writing, Touchstone has maintained a busy entrepreneurial life, though he still manages to preach part-time. He served at a church in Nolensville for 4 years and still guest preaches at churches across the Nashville area. For him, these moments of teaching and connection remain grounding. He summarizes his philosophy succinctly: faith should be lived and not spoken of; it should show in the way we love, serve, and create opportunities for people to flourish. It’s not about building a network of coffeehouses, or leading university initiatives for Rob Touchstone. It’s about connecting the dots between sacred and secular spaces, proving that mission can live in the marketplace, and that compassion can fuel commerce. When asked what propels him forward, he doesn’t refer to profit margins or plans for expansion. He talks about hope. “Hope for growth,” he says, not just for The Well or for his students, but for anyone looking to find meaning in what they do. As Touchstone says, “My vocational journey has helped me to see that all work is sacred and an opportunity to live on mission. Whether in a church, coffee house, or classroom, I am so thankful for the work I get to do as a way to partner with God in the work he’s already doing.” In the end, it all comes full circle. A simple cup of coffee, when brewed with intention, can create an impact far beyond what we can imagine.
This afternoon, Mississippi State women’s soccer announced that Lipscomb women’s soccer Head Coach Kevin O’Brien would be coming to coach for the Bulldogs. O’Brien recently led the Bisons to their second consecutive ASUN Championship victory this season. He also took them back to the NCAA Tournament, where they beat Mississippi State 1-0 in the first round. O’Brien also won the ASUN Coach of the Year award for the 2025 season, making it his fifth career ASUN Coach of the Year. After 14 seasons coaching women’s soccer at Lipscomb, O’Brien is the winningest head coach in program history. He boasts more than 150 career victories, having reached that milestone this season. Lipscomb women’s soccer says that “O’Brien has elevated the Lady Bisons into the national conversation and established Lipscomb as one of the premier mid-major programs in NCAA Division I women’s soccer.” “Under O’Brien’s leadership, the Bisons have captured 12 ASUN championships in the past nine seasons, including five ASUN Tournament titles and seven ASUN Regular Season championships. He has guided the program to five NCAA Tournament appearances, solidifying Lipscomb as a consistent postseason contender,” says Lipscomb women’s soccer. Mississippi State referred to O’Brien as “a proven winner” in their announcement. O’Brien has brought much to Lipscomb’s team over the seasons, molding young women in their sport and their faith. He has coached 50+ All-Conference performers, 15 All-Freshmen honorees, 32 All-Academic selections, and 45 ASUN Players of the Week. He is among the top 50 winningest active coaches in NCAA Division I, with a career record of 155-81-37. In 2018, his staff earned one of the nation’s highest honors as the United Soccer Coaches South Region Staff of the Year. O’Brien will be Mississippi States’ women’s soccer’s eighth head coach in program history, and Lipscomb will begin their search for a new women’s soccer head coach.
As federal SNAP benefits remain limited, the conversation about food insecurity is growing. Dr. Autumn Marshall, chair of Lipscomb’s Department of Nutrition and a registered dietitian, said people underestimate how common food insecurity is on college campuses. “I was really surprised when I did some digging on this, that about 19% of college students experience some level of food insecurity,” Marshall said. “Typically, the ones who live on campus, that’s not a problem because they’re required to have a meal plan. But students who move off campus to save money or who are living at home may be experiencing food insecurity, especially if they’re not able to work as much because they’re in school.” This year, Lipscomb created the Nourish Nook, a small food resource space located in the Office of Student Success and Well-Being. It provides microwavable meals and snacks for students who don’t have easy access to food options. Students can take up to five items every two weeks, after completing a check-in form. “When you’re hungry, you can’t concentrate in class,” Marshall said. “And, you know, we’ve seen this in little kids. That was the whole reason for the creation of school lunch and school breakfast programs was to make sure that kids weren’t sitting in class, not able to pay attention because they’re so hungry. So this just kind of brings it up to the college level.” Marshall said the rising cost of groceries and limited time to work while in school creates barriers for many students who live off campus. Some juggle multiple jobs, and that reduces the time they have to study. “I’m sure that we do have students whose families have been on SNAP benefits,” she said. “They may be here on scholarship, but that means there’s no money left over for food. So that is complicated by the government shutdown and the limit to payments.” Marshall explained that SNAP benefits are based on the federal Thrifty Food Plan, which sets the lowest-cost model for feeding a household. “The thrifty food plan is supposed to be based on the Consumer Price Index, and it’s designed to provide adequate food for the least amount of money possible. So if you look at the Thrifty Food Plan, it will tell you this is the amount of money we’re going to give per week for a family of four. And then it will define the family of four as two adults and two children under the age of 18.” Lipscomb also participates in Swipe Out Hunger, a program run through Sodexo where students can donate unused meal swipes to peers who may not have enough meals. “It provides for students who can’t afford the biggest meal plan,” Marshall said. “Sodexo manages all of that and helps students who are in need get some extra meals.” Marshall said she sees a rising need both in Nashville and nationally. She volunteers regularly with Room in the Inn, where shelters and food pantries have been strained by increased demand. “If you are a college student experiencing food insecurity, please explore the options that are available through Student Life,” she said. “Education is key, and I don’t think a lot of people get the nutrition education they need.”