The heat of a brick pizza oven crackled in downtown Brewton this week as members of the First United Methodist Church produced pizza after pizza in an effort to fund a missionary trip to Costa Rica.

The group, with the help of Leeza Nelson, owner of the former Book and Bean, dusted off the recipe used for pizzas as the retail store and sold to the public. The idea came when Nelson was repeatedly asked to bring the pizzas back.

“I have had any number of people tell me how much they miss coming by Book and Bean to indulge in their favorite pizza,” Nelson said. “It reminded me of a time when the old Oaks Cafe would, every once in a while, cook the famous Oaks burgers for their old customers to enjoy. I thought, maybe people would like to get one of the pizzas again. So we pulled out the recipe and got the stone oven ready.”

With the sale of the pizzas beginning Thursday, Nelson said pre-orders and last minute orders were keeping the volunteers busy.

“It has gone great so far,” Nelson said Thursday. “We didn’t sell all the 300 pre-orders, but I think it was probably a good thing. We have as many orders as we can handle for Thursday and Friday. We won’t be here as long on Saturday, but we do have the time to make more pizzas if anyone still wants one.”

Although getting a taste for a long-gone favorite pizza is motivation enough to make the donation, many residents said helping the cause for the Costa Rican trip was an added bonus.

“It is really a two-way street,” said Spike Maxwell. “If I am going to donate to a cause, I want it to be something I believe in and this mission work is something I believe in. And then again, Book and Bean was one of my favorite places when it was open.”

Jacki Lynn, owner of Jacki and Co., said she had been a fan of Book and Bean, too, but also wanted to help in the group’s efforts to fund the mission trip.

“I loved Book and Bean when it was open,” Lynn said. “I loved the pizzas, but I also wanted to help raise the money to help the people going on the mission trip.”

Tracy Jernigan stopped by and picked up her pizza while arranging to order more.

“I want to help the cause and I do love the pizzas,” she said.

The First United Methodist Church group is planning the Costa Rican mission trip this summer. To make a donation for the group’s efforts, contact the church or any member of the youth group.