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The Christian Cafe Concept
The Christian Cafe Ministry is an idea that stemmed
from 4 people at Bethel Baptist Church in Jamestown.
The idea was for a non-profit evangelic coffee house
for young adults as a place for fellowship and for
evangelistic outreach. Below are portions from a
letter that was sent to evangelic Jamestown-area
churches, along with the "Foundational Concepts"
document.
Dear Christian Brother/Sister,
We would like to enlist your help in announcing
a new Christian ministry in the Jamestown-area.
The ministry is a "Christian Café" which would have
two primary missions. The first purpose is for interdenominational
fellowship of evangelic Christians (i.e., born again
believers, saved Christians, etc.). The second purpose
is to reach the lost in the community with the gospel,
as an outreach ministry.
This "coffee house" would be setup like a big city
coffee house, with couches and lounge chairs, somewhat
subdued lighting, an "artsy" atmosphere. It would
also have workstations and filtered Internet access.
To the community it would be put forth as a new
coffee house, but to those involved this non-profit
ministry will be just that - a ministry.
The Jamestown area has traditionally lacked healthy
social settings. For young adults (college age through
their thirties and forties) there is not much to
do, no laid-back places to gather. Jamestown's main
social locales seem to be primarily bars and drinking
establishments, which to Christians are non-inviting
and unhealthy. The "coffee house" will fill a much-needed
role in the community for believers, as well as
offer a healthy environment for non-believers.
...
Foundational Ideas:
1) Non-profit Organization, funded by churches,
individuals, and businesses.
2) A 10-Person Corporate Board of Directors, one
to two year terms to make the key decisions. (Currently,
five of these volunteer leadership positions may
be filled)
3) All Christians involved will be "Members", but
to be a "Member" the individual must commit to at
least 1 to 2-hours per week to be on-site (as an
"overseer" as well as a "witness" to answer any
spiritual questions that arise). This also brings
business to the coffee house, because the members
will be paying for their beverages or pastries while
filling in their 1 to 2-hour commitment (whether
altogether or in hour increments).
4) People filling orders and general labor are to
be hired help (as in minimum wage college students
or such).
5) Advertised to the general public as a "cool"
new coffee house in Jamestown, but advertised to
our churches as a ministry (again, both as a point
of contact for fellowship of believers and as an
outreach to the unsaved).
6) Live Music on set nights (as in local Christian
musicians).
7) Special Speakers on set nights (as in Guest Speakers
on topics such as "Intelligent Design vs. Evolution"
or maybe Tim LaHaye's viewpoint of the End Times,
etc.)
8) Special "video" nights to watch Christian videos
(such as "Icons of Evolution" or "Left Behind" or
etc.).
9) Music played on stereo system to include: Contemporary
Christian, Folk-Christian, Jazz, Blues, Classical,
etc. Though primarily listening to WCOT (Family
Life Network).
10) An "Artsy" Atmosphere.
11) Filtered Internet Access available.
12) Workstation areas for businessmen and/or college
students to work or study while enjoying the Café
(i.e., in the same area as the Internet Access terminals).
13) "Members" (as described in #3) to
donate yearly "dues" (like other nonprofit
clubs) of $20 or so. In return receive some benefit
(like discounts or such). 1,000 "Members"
could generate $20,000 in start-up revenue.
14) Corporate "Sponsors" to donate $500
per year to receive a special "plaque"
to be hung in view of all patrons. This could be
expensed as a nonprofit donation or an advertising
expenditure for the businesses. Local Christian
businessmen need to be approached. 100 "Sponsors"
could generate $50,000 in start-up revenue.
NEEDS:
1) Location
2) Equipment
3) Supplies
4) Business Accounting
5) IDEAS
6) Members (as described above)
7) Board of Directors (as described above - though
as many as 5 may already be set)
8) Employees (as outlined above)
9) Furniture (i.e., couches, lounge chairs, various
tables, lamps, etc.)
10) Stereo System
11) Old Arcade Video Games
12) Etc., Etc., Etc…
"Plans
fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers
they succeed."
Proverbs
15:22
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