By CARL E. FEATHER



Lifestyle Editor

Would you like some sugar and a prayer with your morning cup?

When patrons stop at His Cup Cafe on Park Avenue, Ashtabula, they get their choice of freshly brewed coffees, espresso, latts and teas, plus the opportunity to tap into divine intervention.

"Im here to serve Gods love one cup at a time," says the Rev. Jim Ekensten, who, with his wife, Terri, runs the cafe.

If the patron is in a hurry and simply needs a little caffeine to clear the cobwebs, Jim and Terri will fill the order and get him on their way. But if the burdens of life take more than a cup of java to lift, the Ekenstens and volunteers are there to help.

"Im called to intercede and stand in the gap for Ashtabula," he says.

The cafe isnt decorated like a church and the only Bible that patrons will see is the one Jim studies on the counter. A "Thought for the Day" Bible quote is displayed on an erasable board; above the fireplace is a framed quote: "Prayers that arent prayed will never be answered." Otherwise, the cafe looks like any other coffee shop.

"Were not here to pound religion into peoples heads," says Jim, who is ordained through Full Gospel and is a member of First Assembly of God, Ashtabula. "God will reveal himself the way he wants to each individual."

Three years ago, the Ekenstens opened a Healing Rooms ministry in the west side of the building, a space formerly occupied by Jims Barbershop (not this Jim). Healing Rooms are non-denominational healing ministries staffed by volunteers who pray for physical, emotional and spiritual healing. People come in off the street for healing, call in requests or send e-mails through the Healing Rooms Web site. Jim says they receive at least two prayer requests every day through e-mail alone. Some nights, they are at the Healing Rooms praying until 11 p.m. to meet demand for their service.

He and the prayer volunteers have witnessed many healings in the ministry, from a child whose rheumatoid arthritis was removed from her fingers to adults with back pain, says Jim.

"We are seeing awesome things with the healing ministry next door, which topped off my decision to move ahead with the coffee shop," he says.

Jim says he felt led by God to add the coffee shop as a way to ease people into the Healing Rooms work.

"I couldnt get away from the idea that this was needed in Ashtabula," he says. "My vision is to see the people of Ashtabula be able to come and sit in a serene, peaceful atmosphere and support the ministry by buying a cup of coffee."

The Ekenstens and volunteers worked on the coffee shop concept since the fall of 2005. Their rent agreement already included the former beauty shop on the east side of the building, so it was just a matter of making some minor modifications and cosmetic improvements before they could open. An old barbers chair, left behind by the previous tenant, was retained in the eclectic decor.

"I looked at it this way: The Lord is still doing beauty work on people in this building, except hes doing it from the inside out," Jim says.

Jim sees coffee and the faith as congruent partners in promoting fellowship.

"I believe Jesus would sit around and drink a good cup of coffee after a meal, thats what we are all about here, fellowship," Jim says. "I dont preach religion at the people, but if they want to come in and talk, Im here, and so are the volunteers."

A large front window imparts a bright atmosphere to the main serving room. Two additional rooms are provided for patrons who want to relax in upholstered furniture while sipping their coffees. A table is provided in that room for checkers and other board games, and a small library offers a variety of Christian and secular books for browsing. Theres also a karaoke machine.

Jim says the coffee shop will make these rooms available to small clubs or Bible study groups that need a place to meet. The concept is to offer a safe environment for any person who comes in, including children and teens.

Although the shop doesnt have a drive-thru window, Jim says they will deliver freshly brewed coffee to any downtown business within walking distance.

The shop serves only beverages and pre-packaged baked goods, such as cookies and muffins. Jim says they dont want to expand beyond those basics, either. They do want to serve the best coffee, and after sampling many different brands, he settled on Day Break, which is roasted in northeast Ohio.

"All of the beans we use are fresh roasted twice a week," he says.

The house blend is "Destiny." "It was made for a church in Twinsburg, Ohio, and having sampled that coffee, I said We got to have this. As far as I know, we and that church are the only two places to carry it."

Standard coffee selections also include organic French roast, Brazilian decaf and a featured flavor of the month, butterscotch for July. The brewed coffee ranges in price from $1 for a 12-ounce cup to $1.50 for the 22-ounce size.

Jim guarantees the coffee will always be fresh because thats the way he likes his java. He grinds it one pot at a time.

"Every two hours, I change the coffee. Thats a heartbreaker, but I dont want people to have a bad cup of coffee," he says.

Coffee drinkers who prefer more exotic concoctions can get a cappuccino, latt, mocha, macchlato, Americano or espresso. Prices range from $2.35 to $2.95. A shot of flavor syrup can be added to any brewed cup for 30 cents. Frappes (a frozen, flavored milk product, similar to a milkshake) are available for $2.65 for 16 ounces. Hot tea and chocolate, bottled water, sodas and chocolate milk are offered, as well.

Jim says the coffee shop became his livelihood the day it opened, July 10. He quit his job as a maintenance supervisor for a trucking firm so he could devote all his time to the cafe, Healing Rooms and their umbrella ministry, Masters Hand Family Improvement Center and Stables. Terri works as a sales associate for J.B. Robinson at the Ashtabula Mall and spends her spare time in the ministries.

"I just want to pray for people," Jim says. "I just want to see people get out from under the burdens of this world, even if its just for five minutes."

Jim hopes area church members will support the ministry by buying a cup of coffee and using the resources. Hed eventually like to have the cafe be a wireless hot spot for the Internet and offer special programs, like movie nights, for teenagers.

"I believe there is an atmosphere of peace in this building," Jim says. "I believe a lot of people are reluctant to come into the Healing Rooms because they dont know what to expect there. ... Its just a place of Gods love. We believe his presence is in the building here."