Cafés in churches

[annsni]

Ann, if you end up doing this I'd also add a small library corner with Bibles and some Christian books. Doesn't have to be "Check-out", just reading material for while they are there. Also, I was going to sugggest you could have small free home-baked goodies to go with the coffee. From my understanding if nothing is charged there are no health regulations, although that may depend on the state, but I would also suggest you check the menus of the strip mall restaurants carefully, since this could cause ill will if you offer something similar to what they have for free. Don't know if they have desserts, but they might. Please keep us posted!

I was thinking about the books and stuff too. Just something homey for people to come rest for a short while. No pressure but we'll certainly make sure people know we ARE a church - and they're welcome to come out on Sunday.

I think we'll just do coffee since there would be very little issues with that. Maybe once-in-a-while have out a plate of cookies or something (store bought) but if people are buying food, coffee would be good enough (although we'll maybe get a water cooler too so there would be something cold?).

This sort of thing is right up my alley and I'd love to be able to meet a small need that people in the area might have and possibly show them that we Christians don't bite. LOL

 

[annsni]

OH, and make sure you meet all other city ordinances.. maybe you could meet with the city planners office for some advice.

Yep, absolutely. What's wonderful is that one of our pastors was in marketing with the local newspaper for many years and he knows a LOT of people. He and DH have already met with the local leaders and such and have been to town hall twice to meet with people to find out about what sorts of things we need to know.

 

[Revmitchell]

Here is one:



http://www.hhchurch.com/content.cfm?id=317

 

[annsni]

Here is one:



http://www.hhchurch.com/content.cfm?id=317

From looking at the prices, it looks like they don't make a lot of money (maybe just a little but I know I pay $0.89 for a Dannon yogurt and they charge $0.75). I think it's a great idea before church to fellowship without the church going broke. I'd go a 1/2 hour early for a cup of coffee - especially if I had to travel any distance!

 

[Revmitchell]

From looking at the prices, it looks like they don't make a lot of money (maybe just a little but I know I pay $0.89 for a Dannon yogurt and they charge $0.75). I think it's a great idea before church to fellowship without the church going broke. I'd go a 1/2 hour early for a cup of coffee - especially if I had to travel any distance!

As long as they are not trying to fund a pastors 7 figure salary I am good with it.

 

[tinytim]

As long as they are not trying to fund a pastors 7 figure salary I am good with it.

Yeah, an 8 figure sum is sooo much better!!! LOL...

I am feeling my cheerios today!


Ann, another option would be to buy coffee that supports missions... I've seen one lately, and will try to get you a link.

 

[abcgrad94]

Question: Wouldn't opening a cafe cause a church to become a "business" and lose it's tax exempt status?

 

[tinytim]

Ann, another option would be to buy coffee that supports missions... I've seen one lately, and will try to get you a link.

I have been looking, but I can't find what i am looking for.
At our State Convention in October, there was a table where we could buy coffee beans from a mission connected with one of our missionaries.

Here is an example but this wasn't the missionary http://foxthailand.akhahilltribe.org/

The idea is the missionaries are training people in coffee bean production so that they can be self sufficient..

The one I am trying to find was sponsored by American Baptist Women. It was from a missionary who is working with women in a country where one of the only professions was prostitution, or human trafficking. So, the missionaries there are training the women to grow coffee beans, in order to make a living.

Ann, I know your church "grows" your own missionaries, but one of them may also be involved in this in one of their countries... as I understand it, this is pretty popular in missions.

So, this may be a way to not only do missions here, but also help missions around the world.

 

[tinytim]

Question: Wouldn't opening a cafe cause a church to become a "business" and lose it's tax exempt status?

Good question, and I am sure if a church wanted to look into this, they would need to meet with a good CPA to find out how to manage this.

 

[tinytim]

Here is a page from our mission board... http://www.internationalministries.org/read/14784 It is an article from one of our Missionaries, Kit Ripley, and it describes their work with The New Life Center, and what they are doing to help end human trafficking in Thailand. And If you read down the page you will see it mentions "Lanna Caffe"

Here is the link to the Lanna Coffee http://www.ttcrafts.co.th/lannacafe/index.html

Here is a link to order the coffee... http://www.ttcrafts.co.th/cgi-bin/producttype.cgi?producttype=LannaCafe

And here is the link to the currency converter so you can compare prices http://www.xe.com/ucc/

 

[Revmitchell]

Question: Wouldn't opening a cafe cause a church to become a "business" and lose it's tax exempt status?

Not necessarily. As long as it was not operating in a profit sense it would not. And it is nearly impossible for churches to lose their tax exempt status since it does not rely on a 5013c letter. Churches are automatically exempt under the tax code with or without a 5013c letter.

 

[David Michael Harris]

I am just realizing, there are Christians in America aren't there.

I think reaching out is very part of Christianity, especially when you think of the gravity of it's message.

Unless your a hyper calvinist and think why bother.

 

[webdog]

I have been in a few churches that have a café inside their church building.

good, bad, indifferent ?

Salty

Great! We have one (it's not staffed, but it is a place to sit, read and enjoy coffee and occasionally pastries.

We are going to have one for the teens as well very soon, where they can hang out, shoot pool, play games and hang out (part of the gym)

 

[webdog]

We've had both happen.

We helped start a church a few years back who first met in a coffeehouse (after hours).

And we renovated our old fellowship hall--it has a cafe-style setup now.

(but it's not open during worship).

Ours started out in a movie theater!

 

[webdog]

I Big Gulp is yummy! So do mock the Lord Jesus by purchasing one on The Lord's Day?

He has a specific day? I thought today was the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it! Whose day are the other 6?

 

[webdog]

Dear Promoter of people working on the Lord's Day, Please explain to us Chapter 22 of our Confession. Thanks!

Translation: I do make others work on the "Lord's Day" and need to insert an ad hominem here to take the pressure off of me before I perjure myself....

 

[annsni]

Translation: I do make others work on the "Lord's Day" and need to insert an ad hominem here to take the pressure off of me before I perjure myself....

LOL - My husband has to work every Sunday - it's required. Is there anything wrong with that? (Not directed at you Webdog but Edward)

 

[MovieProducer]

I didn't think we actually observed the sabbath, do we? If we did we couldn't cook or buy or sell anything.

 

[David Michael Harris]

Just don't mention the last few posts on the Puritan Board. You may get banned as I did.

 

[MovieProducer]

Wow. i just glanced over their rules. Of course, I don't really have time to read them all. I certainly don't begrudge them the right to make whatever rules they want for their forum, but man, that is a lot of rules.