Lattes to Liturgies
The Journey of Julia Thomas
Julia Thomas ’15
Major: Spanish education
If you walk into a Starbucks and order your latte with a “por favor,” chances are you might meet Julia Thomas behind the bar—smiling, steaming milk and effortlessly switching from English to Spanish with the grace of someone who’s lived in both worlds through her Spanish education major and minor in TESOL
But don’t be fooled by the apron and espresso shots. Julia’s story starts not with coffee beans, but with a calling.
Back in 2015, Julia graduated from Bluffton University with a degree in Spanish education and a minor in TESOL, a powerhouse combo that opened doors across languages and continents.
“Bluffton laid the groundwork for everything that came next,” said Thomas.
Classroom to coffee shop
Right after graduation, Julia dove headfirst into teaching Spanish, inspiring students with her love of language and culture for eight years.
“Teaching Spanish gave me a front-row seat to how powerful communication really is and how language builds bridges,” said Thomas.
But even as she graded papers and corrected conjugations, a new calling was quietly whispering in the background.
It wasn’t until she found herself working as a barista, yes, at that “small coffee shop,” a.k.a. Starbucks (her words, not ours), that things began to shift.
“You’d be surprised how often my Spanish came in handy,” Julia laughs. “I’d be handing out cappuccinos one minute, then helping someone place an order in Spanish the next. It was like God reminding me that no skill is ever wasted.”
These everyday moments, simple acts of hospitality, connection and conversation started to feel sacred. And as it turns out, they were the breadcrumbs leading her to her next chapter: seminary.
The call to ministry
Today, Julia is pursuing her Master of Divinity at Indiana Wesleyan University. She’s balancing the espresso machine with theological texts, but the heart of her work remains the same: connecting with people, bridging gaps and following the call she’s heard all along.
“In some ways, everything I’ve done, teaching, serving coffee and studying at Bluffton, it’s all part of the same story,” said Thomas. “It’s about meeting people where they are, whether that’s in a classroom, at a café or in a congregation.”
So, what’s next for Julia Thomas? Only time (and maybe a few more divine nudges) will tell. But if her journey has taught us anything, it’s this: no experience is ever wasted, and every chapter prepares us for the next.