Sunday, August 17, 2008

Guess Who?


Click to zoom in.

One of our cafe regulars... but who?

Leave a comment below, with your best guess.

Monday, August 04, 2008

Join Us On Facebook Now !

It was inevitable, right? LOL



I mean, c'mon, the cafe IS Facebook in the REAL world... with PANCAKES!!!

Ok, so let's use Facebook to help accomplish the mission... by networking there at the speed of Light, to extend the cafe impact.

And if you believe in the cafe mission in the neighborhood, invite your friends to come have coffee & pancakes (or whatever)... and get a FREE HUG from Sister Elease.

What? You don't know the cafe's mission in the neighborhood?



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'UBcafe' tags

Saturday, August 02, 2008

Today at the Cafe

The place was HOPPIN this morning at the UBCafe! David Metzger brought in his friend Margie and her sister Lena to enjoy the city's best breakfast. Christine Hurns also visited with her mother Chris, already a regular at UBCafe.

David & Sisters


Christine Hurns Lil

[Ed. Note... Christine shared with us that she's in one of her church's worship-dance videos now posted at YouTube. So we quickly added that video to the IndyChristian 'community tv' player. And here's a direct link to it.]

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Ike Randolph... Special Presenter of Certificates at VBS Program


Click to see VBS photos

The governor's Director of Faith Based and Community Initiatives, Mr. Isaac 'Ike' Randolph, was a special guest at the cafe Friday evening.

He presented each of the VBS completers a certificate of achievement from the Greater Faith House of Prayer (Church) -- led by Pastor Joe and Lady Gail Reaves.

The church's Vacation Bible School program was aligned with 'Faith Hope & Love Week' here in Indy & Indiana... as officially proclaimed by the governor and various mayors throughout the state.

[See VBS photos]

[And here's Ike's 'Good Works' blog-post after visiting with us -- thank you again, Ike. May God bless you richly.]

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Student Venture... Doing Faith Hope & Love in the Cafe Neighborhood



Photo-stream from today, during Faith Hope & Love Week in Indy. Today Student Venture ministry came to the urban section to participate... and then have lunch at the Unleavened Bread Cafe.

[For more news & events, tune in at IndyChristian.TV.]

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

UBcafe Featured nationally on KLOVE (90.5 FM)

[ht: Linn Asbury and Abby Strader. Thanks!]

We praise God for this great opportunity to be able to share the cafe's ministry model with other cities who might be equally anxious to help transform lives & communities.

[Listen in to the recent national KLOVE broadcast, featuring the cafe ministry.]

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Ellen: 'Nothing Is Too Small...'

[This is from Ellen, whom you all know via the cafe...]



I have been going through a passage of maturity just lately. A very ominous, daunting, dark and narrow pass threatened me just this last weekend.

I have been taking part in an inter-city mission that I had been called two "accidentally" for over two years. "Ask Anything Saturday" is conducted at the Unleavened Bread Cafe in the heart of Indianapolis. This mission-field is one in which some of us Christians implant ourselves into an otherwise unfamiliar culture to be used to show the love of Christ in practical ways.

The overall objective is to be available to introduce anyone who comes in off the street to the basics of using computers. So much of our society today involves the World Wide Web for developing job skills, applying for jobs, conducting research and getting to the information in a fraction of the time it used to take. Even more exciting, is the opportunity to make new friendships and network across many physical boundaries.

The internet has allowed us to cross racial, economical, cultural and educational boundaries. There are tutorials that help the newbies start out on this new adventure called the Internet. There are still some accessibility issues, especially for the aged and the economically strained. However, thanks to Public Libraries, schools, and now other social gathering computer cafe's, this boundary too, is being torn down.

Since I consider myself a "Walmart Missionary"...

[continued at Ellen's Journey]

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

'Can I Go Home Again?'

"Can I go home again?"... the compelling question of 18,000 prisoners released each year from Indiana Department of Corrections.



Dan Gushee shared his personal testimony about that very question today at the MidNorth Shepherd Center's monthly luncheon at the cafe.



Dan is the founder of 'Grace Place'... an ex-offender 're-entry' housing ministry.

Here's a video by 'Choices Team' featuring Dan and one of his guys, Buddy, illustrating the value of a faith-based small-group becoming a 'care team' for a prisoner returning to the community.



'Mother Moore' gave devotions today in standard form -- if you've never been at the cafe to hear her, you MUST mark your calendar for the 1st Tues of a month, 10:30am, and come sit in.

[slide-show from today's photo-pool]

Saturday, June 21, 2008

DeVos Conversation at the Cafe


Dian Foreman, Brian Walls, Chris Provence

I thought this would be a fun pic...
Actually, these 3 are among the DeVos Urban Leadership graduates here in Indy -- great youth-leaders you'd want to know for sure.

More photos from the cafe photo-pool.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Ex-offender Re-entry Townhall...

[story & photos from IndyChristian.com...]

Indiana Department of Corrections Commissioner David Donahue called a 'townhall meeting' last night on the campus of Martin University, to discuss Ex-offender Re-entry programs in our community.



The numbers are staggering... $1.3 Billion dollars are spent every 24 months for keeping prisoners in the state system. And their headcounts are growing at a rate of 4% annually.

During 2008, more than 5,000 IDOC prisoners will return to Marion County alone. Without a job and accountability structures, a very high percentage will return to the very habits that helped get them into prison in the first place. And not surprisingly, a very high percentage will return again to prison. Unless we help.

Alternatively, according to Commissioner Donahue, $80 million could be saved annually with just a 5% reduction in recidivism (rate of ex-offenders returning to prison).

Ok, so where's the Church as part of the solution? Are we willing to step up and be the redemptive agents that Jesus called us to be in the world? A number of our people are. Here's the wiki-page we're compiling of all the prison-related ministries serving our area.

Here are some examples...


Mike Boler, Dan Gushee, Steve Shoup, Bob Irvin

One of our cafe friends (and board member), Dan Gushee, provides housing for ex-offenders. More than just housing though, he helps guys be accountable... and discipled... as they return to the community.

It was fun to introduce Dan to another friend last night, Bob Irvin, who's leads a men's Read-Thru-The-Bible group in Carmel and is involved in the Kairos prison ministry (not to mention serving as a board member for Faith Hope & Love ). Bob is now working to build a micro-loan mechanism whereby we can help ex-offenders start a small business.

I hope you can begin to imagine how hard it is for ex-offenders to find a 'real' job. But becoming a small business owner... ie, provider of services such as landscaping, tree-trimming, etc. may well be a more reasonable possibility... with a little help. Bob told us of a guy who had been ministered to by the Kairos ministry, now released and working hard to restart his work life, by cutting down trees... with a handsaw. The proposed micro-loan fund would help obtain a $7,000 small-business loan to make it possible to buy a used truck, wood-chipper and chain-saws. Maybe even put some other guys to work with him as the business grows.

What might you or your church be able to do?

[Photo slide-show from last night's Townhall Meeting]

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More photos from Don Hawkins... IndianaReEntry.com.

Saturday, June 07, 2008

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Biking Birthday in the Neighborhood? Yep. June 7th



June 7th... at Tab Park. Click for details. And hey, check it out,

Btw, what do you get a bike for its birthday? Nancy got hers a BLOG !!!

Thursday, May 01, 2008

And the wall comes tumbling down...


photo by Ellen5e

The wall of the building adjoining the cafe came tumbling down today, and out into the street.

[continued at the Indianapolis Star]

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Chelsea Clinton Visits The Cafe

[Much thanks for photos by Alex Conner]


Judy O'Bannon & Chelsea Clinton

Former 'First Daughter', Chelsea Clinton, came to the cafe yesterday while on the campaign trail for Senator Hillary Clinton. She was accompanied by Mrs. Judy O'Bannon -- former first lady of Indiana.


Pastor David Scott & Chelsea

Chelsea's visit came on short notice, and of course was warmly welcomed by everyone -- a hallmark at the cafe... Christ-like warmth & hospitality.


Mrs. O'Bannon & Neil Cox


Chelsea and Sister Elease Womack

Mrs. O'Bannon and Ms. Clinton were greeted by Sister Elease Womack, the cafe ministry leader. And they made the rounds throughout the cafe, stopping and talking with cafe regulars who were on-hand.


Chris Smith & Chelsea

And of course, many photos were taken 'at the banner'. After all, surely you wouldn't travel all the way to Indy and NOT get your photo taken at the banner, would you? *wink*


Jennifer O'Bannon & Ellen Spencer

Another 'First Daughter' was also on-hand... Jennifer... daughter of the late Gov. Frank O'Bannon.


Rosie & Viola

Many beloved friends of the cafe were also enjoying the occasion. And as is our tradition, getting your picture made 'at the banner' is just another way we can honor our neighbors and friends, as we strive to get to know each other quickly.

The cafe photo-pool now contains over 900 such pictures... with a promise of many more to come, should the Lord tarry.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Video: 'Have You Heard?'

Catch the vision: If you look across the citywide 'Church @ Indianapolis' and see the digital divide, the multicultural divide, and God's eternal divide... all starting to close... you might be seeing just a little of the impact of this little cafe truly in the heart of Indy...


Reggie Edwards: "What am I good for?"

It's a lot of fun as you can see from the video. In this particular case... [continued at LovingChange.com]

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[ht: "TweetOthers.com" -- Catching others doing great stuff.]

Friday, April 11, 2008

Vision Dinner Video

Great thanks to our volunteer techs for providing clips from the recent 'Vision Dinner'. Stay tuned at AskAnythingSaturday.TV for more...


Sunday, April 06, 2008

More friends at the cafe....

As always, we all met a lot of new people Saturday at the cafe. And one particularly neat introduction was Manuel Apraez, from MY neighborhood in Carmel...


Manuel Apraez and Eric Yateman

[other recent items from the cafe photo-pool]

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Great crowd, great pix...


[click to zoom]

Gotta love the cafe, especially Saturday mornings during Ask Anything Saturday. It's a great mix of folks, coming together for a variety of reasons.

And how cool to be able to enjoy all of AlxConn's slide-show. [Thanks Alex!]

Monday, March 24, 2008

The IRS wants our help... Economic Stimulus FAQs

Economic Stimulus Payments Information Center

(IRS.gov) Updated March 17, 2008

Starting in May, the Treasury will begin sending economic stimulus payments to more than 130 million households. To receive a payment, taxpayers must have a valid Social Security number, $3,000 of income and file a 2007 federal tax return. IRS will take care of the rest. Eligible people will receive up to $600 ($1,200 for married couples), and parents will receive an additional $300 for each eligible child younger than 17. Millions of retirees, disabled veterans and low-wage workers who usually are exempt from filing a tax return must do so this year in order to receive a stimulus payment.

But there are more details to know... [continued at IRS.gov]

Saturday, March 22, 2008

In the house... 'Fun' was the special of the day.

Another great day at the cafe. The place was jammed. And jammin'. LOL



I met one of my 'Facebook friends'... Dian Foreman... for the first time today at the cafe. Dian is coordinating the RELOAD conference that several of us will be involved in, coming up in April. With her was another new friend made today, Jeffrey Cole.



Here's another Facebook friend... with a friend... having entirely too much fun. *smile*



Yeah, you can see... things almost got out of hand, people were all enjoying cafe time. These folks came all the way from Colorado Springs to be with us. Well, sorta. *wink*



And there's always gotta be an 'actor' in the crowd, right?

...and many more fun pix today in the cafe's photo-pool.

Be with us next week?