Posted on Oct 12, 2009 at 1:15 p.m. |SEPT - OCT 2009 Edition

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“Christ's Care Compels Cafe Connections Commitment Of OIF Outreach!”

By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

Oct 12, 2009

Editors Note: As publisher of Pittsburgh Standard, I decided to do a religious piece on Oakland International Fellowship's attempt at their first Cafe Connections of the month. What you will be reading is my account of what transpired that afternoon. Pittsburgh Standard also has a policy of not showing pictures of minors over 4 and under 17. If you have pictures from Cafe Connections and want them published please send them to submit@pittsburghstandard.com

On a Sunday afternoon when many households tuned their television sets to see the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Detroit Lions on Oct 11, 09 at 1:00 p.m., the community of Oakland International Fellowship (OIF) tuned their hearts to reach their community with coffee, caffeine, and Christ at their first monthly Café Connections of the semester that lasted from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. They did this because of their commitment to reach their community with the love of Christ emphasizing their vision of Deeper Faith, Stronger Community, and Greater Impact.

Oakland International Fellowship is located at 134 North Dithridge Street, Oakland on Fifth Ave

It was a wonderful time of fellowship with members of the community including Pitt students who got to hang out there by listening to music provided by our own DJ, Bryan Baird.

They also drank Jasmine Milk Bubble Tea, Thai Ice Tea, Dan’s special gourmet blend of coffee, Calvin’s ‘Pick Me Up’ Punch, or Taiwanese Style Shaved Ice topped with Sweet Red Beans and Condensed Milk.

The menu and prices for the Cafe Connections are displayed! Photo By Ramesh C. Reddy

Those who ordered any of the drinks were given the option of getting a Marble Pound Cake, a large cookie, or pastries for free from Daniel and Amy Spector who took the orders.

Daniel and Amy Spector joyfully take orders offering free desserts as a bonus.

As the Steelers-Lions continued to play pounding physical football on the field, the Café Connections had different plans for its visitors. They were given the option of playing offense and defense, with words in a game of Scrabble, which couple of them took as a challenge to win. The team of Marie Chan, Suzanne Fu, and Christy DeReal won. Others decided to have fun playing UNO Spin, Bloxus, and the Steelers version of Connect Four.

Left to right: Vicki Cheng, Suzanne Fu, Alison Bucknell, Christy DeReal, Olivia Liao & Ping Chi

Towards the end, Spector decided to give away free sweets for those using their brain power to play the games.

Left to right: Pastor Ed Jiang, Brian Conner, Amy Spector, Elias DeReal, Roy, and Ronald.

Overall as an inaugural start, Café Connections did bring new faces to Oakland International Fellowship to build relationships and show the love of Christ through word and deed.

Calvin Chiang, the missions and outreach coordinator along with his wife Elise Chiang and the entire Café Connections serving team should be applauded for an excellent Sunday afternoon time of fun, food, and fellowship with members of the community because they provided an opportunity for visitors to not only stimulate their body with coffee but their minds with certain books and games.

Calvin Chiang, Elise Chiang, and their daughter.

But most of all, it was an avenue to stimulate the souls of visitors with the love of the Lord Jesus Christ that members of the OIF community enjoy. OIF is the English congregation of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland.

All photos by Ramesh C. Reddy

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CHRISTIAN NEWS:

Oakland International Fellowship welcomes incoming students to its worship service on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. near North Dithridge St. followed by Sunday School at 11:30 a.m. and fellowship lunch at 12:30 p.m.

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