Pepsico, the makers of Pepsi Cola and other products, changed its logo this year. The logo and can design changed but the cola remained the same. The Medina Café 41:11 is going through a similar change.

In 2007, the Medina café team signed a two year lease agreement with our current landlord. The lease was formed with the understanding that when the time came to renew it the Medina café would step out in faith to form its own non-profit organization. The Medina Leadership team and Corporate Office in Norton believed this was God’s direction for the Medina café.

In the fall of 2008, and by God’s grace, the Medina café began this process after receiving the blessing to move forward from Café Corporate. Steve Friddle, the current Chairman of the Board of Trustees in Norton, writes, "We celebrate together with all our friends connected with Cafe 41:11 Medina as you take this next step in transferring ownership of the ministry to your community. We have valued and appreciated the ministry partnership we have had over the past 4 years and look forward to many years of mutual support, encouragement and cooperation as we both strive to serve the Lord and minister to people in our respective communities. May God bless you as you follow His leading and reach Medina with the gospel of Christ."

God is greatly blessing the café with new financial support and volunteers and our service to the community is growing. In the coming months (date still to be determined), Café 41:11 in Medina will become CUPS CAFE. The name and logo will change, but the “cola” will remain the same. The things you see and hear God doing today will continue tomorrow and in the future.

The cafe is in an exciting stage of redevelopment and transition. We ask that you pray for us and be patient as we work with you through these changes. A question I'm asked frequently is: Why Cups Cafe? For many reasons. One is because Jesus said, “If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward” (NIV, Matthew 10:42).

The cafe currently serves cups of soup, cups of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cups of cold water, kool-aid, iced tea and milk, and small servings (cups) of Hope. Our new vision statement will be: Serving Hope one cup at a time. The Hope we serve is Jesus and we serve this Hope one "cup" (one heart) at a time. The volunteers and team members not only serve Jesus Christ through our work, we serve Jesus Christ to our guests.

We're hosting an informational meeting open to anyone wanting to learn more about the cafe and these changes.

Do you have a lot of questions?

Do you want to know the ins and outs of the ministry?

Have you wondered how the cafe is structured, why the name change, who is involved, and/or where the money goes?

Then we hope you'll attend this meeting and bring your friends and invite your church family to come to this meeting!!

Date: Sunday October 18, 2009

Time: 2:00pm to 5:00pm

Location: Harvest Presbyterian Church 1095 E. Reagan Pkwy. Medina, Ohio 44256 (Google it)

Contact: Tim Van Arsdale 330.304.5449 or tim@cafe4111.org

Details: Free to all, Free Coffee & Tea & Goodies, Come with an open heart and be ready for a packet of info to snack on

1999

2009

Riddle me this Batman:

1. Do you own a piece of clothing with a logo of your favorite sports team?

2. Do you secretly bounce your knee, stare at your watch, and fly the family home after church on Sunday?

3. Do you know what a 2 point conversion is?

4. Do things in your home get thrown or broken on Sunday?

5. Do you like motorcycles, cars, or have a hairy chest, arms, or back?

6. Do you know what Tailgate means?

7. Do you nonchalantly throw around words at the water cooler like: Ligament, Rotator Cuff, Tommy John, or Arthroscopic?

8. Has your personality on Monday been adversely affected from Sunday afternoon television?

9. Do you receive sporting texts, stats, highlights, or news on your cell phone?

10. Does your Sunday lunch consist of deep fried, non-organic, hydrogenated, high-fructose snacks?

11. Are you guilty of ever screaming, “OH, Did you see that hit?”

If you answered yes to all or any of these questions, then Café 41:11 needs you! You have gifts and talents that can be used to further the kingdom of God.

Café 41:11 wants to host a Fantasy Football fundraiser. It’s not like those other Fantasy leagues you may be used to. This is for a good cause. I want to put together a massive Fantasy league to raise money for the café.

We’ll use ESPN’s free online Fantasy Football to host this fundraiser. It is a pay to play, but with a catch. All the proceeds go to Café 41:11. Not me, not you. It will go to the café to help keep the doors open.

Look…you know you’re already going to play Fantasy Football. (Maybe you’ve even already signed up to play with some friends.) This will be for a good cause and you get to have fun at the same time.

Still not sure? Tell your wife that you’re doing this for the Lord. Tell her, "Honey, it's 4 Jesus and Da Kids."

She’ll support you.

It’s time the men step up to show the women what service and giving really looks like!

I’m not looking for 8 or 10 guys here. I’m looking to put together a league with lots of divisions made up of lots of guys (say 32 guys) from lots of churches. We could even maybe have church divisions. So that chuches go against other churches like in a church softball league.

Some basics: Live fun Auction draft at a TBA location in Medina, keeper league, $20 to play (32 guys at $20 raises $640 for the cafe), more details to come if we get a positive response.

Call me 330.304.5449 or email me vanarsdale@zoominternet.net with your name and phone number and simply reply, "I'm in!"

Please pass this along to those guys you know can answer "yes" to the questions above. Let me say...I am hip to today's culture. I know there are some killer fantasy football lady players out there. If you can run with the big dogs, you're invited too. But...only serious women need apply. You can answer "no" to question #5.

You in?

WE NEED YOU!!

Help raise $1075 for Cafe 41:11 by volunteering a few hours at the Medina County Fair Monday August 3 thru Sunday August 9. The cafe is being paid to get contestants and spectators to sign a waiver as they enter the grandstand for Moto-cross, Demo-Derby, and the Tractor Pull events. This is the third year we've been blessed with this summer fundraiser.

It's not that hard and after you're done you get in the fair for free. You can go over and buy me fair fries.

WHAT YOU DO:  Pick a three hour shift(s) to volunteer your time.

WHAT THE FAIR DOES:  Sets up a couple nice canopy tents for shade.

WHAT YOU DO:  Show up with a lawn chair, cooler, book or magazine to read (if it's slow).

WHAT THE FAIR DOES:  Provides clip boards, pens, and the waivers.

WHAT YOU DO:  Walk up to cars and get signatures. Sit back down (or go buy Tim fair fries).

WHAT THE FAIR DOES:  Gives the cafe $1075.

WHAT YOU DO:  Walk over and get in the fair for free.

Double click here to view/print the schedule we need to fill.

Some slots are already filled, so give me a call 330.304.5449 for the most recent available shifts. First come, first served. Please pass this along to friends, family, your church. We need a lot of help that week.

No children please.

Hard-working, reliable, competent teens over 16 allowed to help.

Great high school youth group ministry opportunity, small group activity, or husband and wife date night: serve together, then walk over and ride the ponies. (Then buy Tim fair fries).

The cafe will be closed that week simply because most of the volunteers will be helping at the fair. I'll call you with details on where to go etc. after you've signed up.

Please consider signing up. It's for a great cause...it's 4 da kids.

They are not seeking recognition. But I thought you should know about their great energy and sacrifice and love. Shepherds Grace Church does something different with their Vacation Bible School program. They go out and serve. They take it to the streets. They don't host it at their church.

This week (minus one day for threat of rain) they've organized a Vacation Bible School program at Cafe 41:11 for kids in the Medina community. Tonight is their last night. They're planning a carnival of activities for kids 5 - 12 years old from 6:30 to 8:30pm tonight.

If you've got nothing to do, bring your child to join in the fun. Check out these awesome pictures of this week's fun activities combined with the sharing of God's love found by faith in Jesus. Awesome...just awesome!

Your financial support to keep the cafe doors open is making a difference.

Click to View Pictures>>

This video is for those churches and individuals who contributed in any way toward the Cafe 41:11 Memorial Day event. It's our special way of saying: Thank You!

The staff and volunteers are so grateful for your support. Your generosity helped the cafe raise $423 and made Cafe 41:11 a positive, more visible presence in the Medina community.

Judy Totts, the religion editor for the Medina Gazette, wrote a nice article about tomorrow's fundraiser.

Thanks Judy!

Stop by early before the 10am parade for a cup of coffee to go. We're brewing a delicious specialty roast tomorrow morning starting at 8am.

Hope to see all of you tomorrow. Stop by and help us raise money for the cafe. I'll be in a dunk tank! 3 balls for a $1.

Click here to view article!

I sometimes have weird thoughts. Take the word extravaganza. I hear this word and think: What's a vaganza?

No, I'm really not that retarded...just odd. I understand there is no such thing as a vaganza. This word actually comes from the Latin word vagant which means wandering. But extravaganza is its own word. However, it is associated with the word extravagant.

I'm not that excited about the word extravagant. I can't say why. Really...I don't know why. It's a bothersome noise to me like nails on a chalkboard or a man snoring. (I snore - BTW.) I prefer vaganza. It sounds cool and it's unique. Vaganza grabs your attention. It falls nicely off the tongue like the names of Italian pasta dishes...lasagna, ravioli, manicotti...or the way certain foreign dialects roll their R's.

And to have an extra vaganza sounds doubly good. If vaganza is so good, who wouldn't want a second helping?

I'm officially commissioning vaganza as a word. And, starting today, Cafe 41:11's Annual Memorial Day Hot Dog Fundraiser will not be an extravaganza. It will be an extra vaganza.

That's right, cafe blog fans! Cafe 41:11 will be hosting an extra vaganza.

Stop by Cafe 41:11 on Monday May 25, 2009. The cafe will be open from 8:00am to 12:00pm. You and your family can grab a free TO GO coffee, tea, hot chocolate and goodies, or whatever, before the parade (donations welcome). And after the parade, we'll be hosting a hot dog, bag of chips and can of pop extra vaganza (for a suggested donation of $2.00).

Men and women from Harvest Presbyterian Church, Shepherd's Grace Church, and Weymouth Community Church are coming together to make this event possible. We'll have free doggy treats and face painting and maybe even a few extra vaganza surprises (like Tim in a dunk tank...maybe, we're still working out the details). All proceeds benefit the operating expenses of Cafe 41:11. (It'll help keep the doors open.)

All gifts are tax-deductible. It is difficult to issue end of the year receipts for cash donations that day unless you place your gift in an envelope with your contact info. If a tax-deduction isn't a big deal to you, then just bring a wad of Benjamin's or Jackson's and feed your family. Checks can be made to: Cafe 41:11.

We hope you'll stop by Monday May 25 on your way to and from the parade on the square to help support this ministry.

Event: Cafe 41:11 Hot Dog fundraiser Extra Vaganza 

Date: Monday May 25, 2009

Time: 8:00am to 12:00pm

Place: Cafe 41:11 126 N. Court St. Medina, Ohio 44256

Donations: Hot Dog, bag of chips & can of pop (suggested donation of $2.00). Other cafe products offered freely (donations welcome).

Promo: Click 2009 Memorial Day Flier to view and print flier for your church, friends, and family.

It's amazing how things change and grow.

A caterpillar grows into a butterfly. A tadpole becomes a frog and seasons come and go. My wife and I are enjoying the freshness of spring in our backyard. We're planning to plant our garden next weekend. God's creation is truly incredible! And God is doing something similar with the Medina Cafe 41:11.

It is going through a metamorphosis. Our Father is changing the cafe and blessing the cafe with new guests, new volunteers, new financial support, and new donations of food and drinks.

We're growing. We're changing...and this metamorphosis is something we've been expecting since we signed our lease agreement two years ago.

The Medina cafe would not be where it is today without your faith in what God is doing through us and without your love and prayers and financial support. We praise Him for inspiring you to join Him in this cafe ministry. So we thank you from our hearts!

This ministry is not about Tim and Mindee, or Janis, or the volunteers. It's never been about us. We're dispensable. The cafe has always been about God and what He has placed on our hearts to do in Medina Ohio and for His glory. I'll shoot you straight. I'll be honest. I'm writing this update to tease you about what is to come. It's called marketing and...unfortunately...it is part of my job.

The cafe is changing from a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly so it can fly and fulfill its God given purpose. This purpose? To form its own non-profit organization with the blessing of the Norton Cafe 41:11 and corporate office. We're still in the cocoon stage. We're half-way through the process. We've formed a local Board of Directors and articles of incorporation. We have approval from the State of Ohio. The next step is to send paperwork to the IRS and in June to pin down a new logo, business cards, and letter head.

What is the benefit of doing this? (Great question!)

• To give ownership of this ministry to Medina and its churches.
• All support will stay here.
• Board of Directors made up of people with a heart for Medina and invested in Medina.
• It will save us some money.
• It's God's plan for us.

I promise...the work we do in Medina will not change. What you see and hear happening today will continue tomorrow and in the coming months. You'll still receive these crazy e-mail updates. The name and logo will go through a metamorphosis, but our day-to-day operations and desire to meet the physical, spiritual, social, and mental needs of young people and families with the Gospel will not waver.

So what's the new name? (Great question!)

You'll have to wait. That's the teaser (sorry). You'll have to keep watch over your e-mail inbox and snail-mail box for more info. Don't panic. Don't worry. I know change can be scary. But we're not afraid. We're asking you to trust us as we trust God. You've seen God provide for our needs. He is definitely invested in this ministry, and He's still involved. (If you read these e-mails, you know this to be true.) No matter the name or logo or articles of incorporation, we're believing God to provide for us and guide us.

Some of you know our new name. I'm politely asking that you keep this a secret. Don't spill the beans...as they say! I know you're probably going crazy wondering about these things. But we'll contact you with the details you'll need when the time is right. For now, we simply ask that you:

• Pray for the cafe and those serving.
• Continue sending in your support as normal.
• Join in our excitement and anticipation for all God is doing in and through the Medina cafe and its servants.

Getting Ready to Fly,

Tim Van Arsdale