80th & Metcalf,
Overland Park, KS 66204
913 381-6022
Hours: 6:30 AM to 10:00 PM Monday - Saturday
Closed Sundays

Some Changes at Homer’s Coffee House

In 1996 Louise and I sold the photography business that we had owned for 23 years and joined the staff of The Christian Businessmen’s Committee – CBMC. Our challenge was to find ways to take the ministry into the twenty-first century and take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the post-modern culture.

I spent the next five years interviewing people, doing research, and praying about what this ministry should look like. In the process I earned a degree from Mid-America Nazarene University. We learned about the importance of relationships, of community; the importance of being authentic and real. We learned that music is the universal language and that any ministry that wants to have an impact must have a music component. We soon realized that we needed a place, a place where people would want to be, a place where people could have good conversations, listen to music, be surrounded by art, and learn about Jesus.

Eight years ago I was attending a funeral of a friend and mentor, Homer Anderson. A pastor friend put his hand on shoulder and said, “It looks like the mantle has fallen on you.” He was referring to the passage in II Kings where Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind and his mantle fell on Elisha. Elijah’s followers took that as a sign that Elisha was their new leader. I took it as a sign that it was time to do something important.

Eighteen months later we opened Homer’s Coffee House, named after Homer. We were faithful to the calling and God responded by building a community around Homer’s and making it a lighthouse to the city. God has used Homer’s to impact countless lives in ways that we may never know. He also made Homer’s one of the most respected Christian music venues in the United States. We have been very pleased to be part of this ministry.

Louise and I now believe our work is done at Homer’s and as of June 30, 2008, our staff position with CBMC will end. God has called a new Executive Director and a new management team. Byron Whetstone will become the new Executive Director and a new Board of Directors will be appointed. In addition Glenn and Vanessa Winkler will become the General Managers of Homer’s Coffee House effective June 13, 2008.

Byron is President of American Direct, a building supply distributor based in Lenexa, Kansas. Byron and his wife, Jerri, have been involved with church plants and other Christian leadership and have an expanded vision for the ministry of Homer’s Coffee House.

Glenn and Vanessa are both graduates of Kansas State University. Vanessa has a degree in social work and Glenn in music. Both love working with people and feel called to the coffeehouse ministry.

I have opened a new photography studio in 82 Corporate Woods, specializing in executive, commercial, and theatrical portraits. (www.MathisPhoto.net) Louise has joined Triune Financial Partners in 84 Corporate Woods.

When I joined the staff of CBMC, a personality test revealed that my passions were music, art, and literature. Homer’s has allowed me to pursue each of those things to large degree. I will continue to play music and be involved in the Christian music scene as much as possible as I begin another full-time career in the art of photography.

The other aspects of the Kansas City CBMC ministry; one-on-one discipleship, small groups, and events such as the Mayor Prayer Breakfasts will continue without interruption. There will be no leadership changes in these activities.

This is the last in a series of 122 issues of this newsletter that I will write. (I will continue to write the blog at jimmathis.blogspot.com) It has been an amazing 12 years since issue number 1. Certainly the most incredible time was the seven years that we have operated Homer’s Coffee House.

Sure, we have impacted the city in ways that we will never know, but the impact on me personally has also been huge. I cannot image what my life would be like without this experience and those relationships. A large majority of my close friends are people that I have met and grown to love through the coffeehouse. I, in no way, intend to lose those friendships that I have built over the past seven years. If anything, I hope to be able to spend more time with friends after the day to day responsibilities of Homer’s have been handed off.

One of my goals when I turned fifty was to get more involved with music. Homer’s has allowed me to do that in a big way. I was recently mentioned as one of the most influential people in Christian music in Kansas City. God has a way of giving us the desire of our heart.

We have had over sixty different employees at Homer’s during our tenure. For many of them, it was their first job. What a joy it has been to help mold these wonderful people.

There have been very few negatives. One is that we have not been able to engage enough people in the financial support of the ministry to get us past a month to month existence. This probably is a reflection on my poor fund raising abilities as much as anything.

Another biggie is that my dad didn't live long enough to see Homer’s come to fruition. He would have loved it.

The other complaints are all trivial. Too many people still waste too much paper, even though we have always made reusable cups, plates, and silverware available and even offer a sizable discount if people bring their own cups. We have tried to raise the standard of quality in the coffeehouse business but have not been entirely successful. For example, we offer gourmet tea that costs $50 per pound, serve it in stainless steel tea pots made in Austria, but many people still asks us to put it in a tea bag in a paper cup. This is probably a result of other coffeehouses using only disposable products and selling drinks at a drive-thru like a fast food restaurant. Of course, these are minor annoyances compared to the wonderful people we have met and had the privilege of serving.

Now the time has come to pass the ministry on to people with more energy and a greater vision. I am very excited about the prospects of Homer’s Coffee House in the near future and am confidant that we are leaving it in good hands.

We sincerely appreciate your financial and prayer support over the past twelve years and hope that you will continue to support the ministry of Homer’s Coffee House by sending your checks to Homer’s at 7126 W 80 th , Overland Park, KS 66204. If you wish to support the ministry of CBMC USA, the address is: PO Box 8009, Chattanooga, TN 37414.

Jim Mathis

Music Info
"Let's Start a Band"
"Here's the Low Down"
"Fourteen Generations"