Inspire, Summer 2007

12 Summer 2007 Inspire 13 Feature : Tom Walkley ’ 82 Feature AS WITH MOST GREAT IDEAS , it started with a moment of inspiration. For Tom Walkley ’82, it originated in God’s declaration in Job 41:11 — “Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.” “This verse inspired me in a couple of ways,” Tom says. “First, that God has an attitude, and second — as it relates to children — that this is a foundational teaching for parents. We need to teach our children the idea of accountability.” The result? Cafe 41:11 (www.cafe4111.org ), a nonprofit version of Starbucks, dedicated to reaching out to local youth. Tom couldn’t have known when he purchased a piece of property across from a public high school 20 years ago that God had far greater plans than the law practice he intended it for. Twelve years later, the Lord called him to surrender the land and the building and turn it into a coffee shop that ministers to young people. Of course, getting the building was the easy part. Touching hearts and lives promised to be more complicated. But Tom wasn’t approaching the project without a plan. “If you’re going to reach the young people of this generation,” he says, “you have to use a form of authoritative community. Because of divorce and family breakdown, our culture has lost a sense of fear of the Lord. Parents don’t have the same authority they once did.” In the midst of his work among young people, Tom realized his outreach needed to touch the poor. But he had to ask himself: How does one recognize the suburban poor? He quickly discovered an enormous number of homeless people living in suburban neighborhoods — unstable, transient individuals who seemed to float around their communities without a place to land. These were the young people with whom Cafe 41:11 connected. “We gave them a place in the community where they know they have someone to talk to — a place to belong,” Tom explains. Providing a safe haven where teenagers could relax and enjoy a sense of belonging was step one in making the ministry successful. The next step was for the staff at Cafe 41:11 to work on the youths’ behavior — often a result of fractured homes and difficult circumstances. “Because of brokenness, they have missed a valuable piece of imprinting, especially as it relates to a work ethic. We can’t assume they’ve been taught such a vital aspect of life.” The next step, therefore, is a values-based job-mentoring program. This aspect of the ministry — a for-profit business called Topia Place (www.topiaplace.com) — offers internships for business and ministry jobs, as well as on-the-job training in the culinary and performing arts. Finally, but most importantly, the cafe seeks to answer the spiritual needs of the young people who come. Tom considers it a sort of “pre-evangelism”: connecting with each person individually and giving them time to get used to the idea that they are among passionately dedicated Christians. As a result, they are blessed to be able to lead many of the cafe’s “customers” to Christ. “The main thing Cedarville University taught me was responsible Christianity,” Tom says, “and to be a shepherding influence in the marketplace. That had a foundational influence on what I’m doing today.” A 1982 graduate of Cedarville, Tom also has two children who received their degrees at the University and another child who is currently attending. That has given him a better idea of where today’s young people are coming from. “They don’t want to get stuck in the liturgical, high church model. They want a more balanced faith.” Tom adds, “They’re not buying into materialism and want to hold onto Christian dignity. I like seeing young people wanting to be authentic.” His efforts are growing. Besides having three cafe locations in Ohio, he is in the final stages of completing a restaurant. The first Crumby’s Bread Company will open in Norton, Ohio in August. Besides providing jobs for young people, he sees it as a means of bringing in money for various missions. Tom also hopes it will put a new face on the church, restoring credibility and making it relevant for today. Church involvement is highly important to the success of Cafe 41:11. About 50 churches are currently participating in the work, making it interdenominational as well as multigenerational. Volunteers range from 16 to 85 years old. “This is a training facility for the church to reach outside of the church building,” Tom explains. “It’s a challenge because we’re working with a lot of young people who are, though I hate to say it, going nowhere.” Tom continued, “Unfortunately, people do not have a lot of sympathy for American teenagers whom they see as spoiled. It’s much easier to love the poor in Mozambique. But we have a responsibility to help in our own neighborhoods.” Because the cafe is a ministry, there is no charge for products or services. The website states: “Essentially, we put ourselves in a position that we couldn’t get out of without putting our faith into action and trusting the Lord. In a very direct sense it was a ‘put up or shut up’ scenario.” Tom chooses every day to trust the Lord with each new aspect of the ministry he has been called to — a ministry that is growing and changing on a regular basis. But one thing remains constant: Tom’s desire to give young people a sense of community, to instruct them toward adulthood, and to guide them toward biblical truth ... and a relationship with Jesus Christ. Tom ’82 and Beth Walkley live in Norton, Ohio. They have five children Sarah ’99, Ben ’03, Lydia, Elizabeth ’09, and Lily. Tom is a licensed attorney working full time on the development of Topia Ltd. Beth is a homemaker and serves as a volunteer and trustee for Cafe 41:11. To learn more about their ministries, visit www.cafe4111.org and www.topiaplace.com. To contact them directly, call 330-706-9467 or e-mail topia4050@aol.com. A Purpose for the Purposeless “Unfortunately, people do not have a lot of sympathy for American teenagers whom they see as spoiled. It’s much easier to love the poor in Mozambique. But we have a responsibility to help in our own neighborhoods.” I