fort wayne, ind. (decrease) – a divine encounter cafe opened in oct 2020 joining a row of businesses on the corner of coliseum and parnell. Despite opening during a pandemic, the restaurant has seen a steady stream of customers who, it seems, frequent the restaurant not only for the delicious and healthy food, but also for its owner, Betty Shuman.
shuman is a successful businesswoman, but her life has some dark chapters. originally from ohio, shuman and her brother were in and out of abusive foster homes as babies, she began experimenting with drugs and alcohol as a teenager, and was eventually abandoned in fort wayne during high school.
Reading: Divine encounter cafe
He needed to find God and faith to put his life on the right track. Until two years ago, she was working in the corporate world earning good money, but longing for a change.
“I felt like I was doing the same thing over and over again. So I feel like the Lord took me out of corporate America, but he wanted people to go back to the table and good food and show kindness and love,” he said.
that led her to open a divine encounter café, a space for good food, fellowship and faith.
“I believe that a good life begins with what we put in our minds and what we put in our bodies. So good thoughts, the bible, whatever motivates us, whatever we choose, surround ourselves with good people who lift us up and don’t tear us down,” said Shuman. “and what we eat”.
shuman greets each customer with a smile and a friendly hello, creating an atmosphere that draws people in and keeps them coming back. every time someone walks through the door, they are family, she says.
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“I love meeting customers. trying not to get emotional here, but growing up without a mother: god has given me a big family in this cafe,” shuman said through tears. “every time someone walks through that door is an opportunity to love them.”
Betty’s faith is important to her. She believes that Jesus Christ saved her life and helped set her on the path to happiness and success. That’s why she likes to share Christ’s love with clients and colleagues “if they like it,” she says. but she is careful not to force anyone because everyone is welcome in her cafe regardless of her religion, background or journey.
“We’ve had Muslims here, we’ve had atheists, we’ve had the Sikh religion and we love everyone,” Shuman said. “I’m not a judge, am I? I have my own walk with Christ. I have my own trip and you have yours. but the thing is that, at least for me, I believe in a god that I cannot see, feel, touch, smell, because we are 9 billion on this earth, what are we doing to lift each other up to love each other?” /p>
love for shuman is multiplied tenfold, and not just by customers. In the midst of a hiring struggle in the service industry, several workers volunteer their time at a divine encounter cafe.
“Betty is doing something wonderful here and there are a lot of us who like to help her,” said Cliff, who volunteered to cook in the kitchen.
gary muncie used to play his ukulele inside nursing homes, but because covid-19 kept him out, he asked shuman if he could play in the cafe. now, he sits inside a divine gathering once a month and entertains diners with his soulful voice. His wife also joins him in praying with clients.
“Betty is so in love with Mr. I don’t think you can get any closer to him,” Muncie said. “And he shows in the way he prays and greets people, he’s that kind of person.”
“We pray with clients here every day, if they want to. two questions I love to ask are: “what is your dream? do you need prayer for anything?” and one of those two questions will usually bring some kind of tear: a tear of joy, a tear of healing. and so, in this small restaurant with 65 seats, we just want to love people.”
once the cafe closes in the early afternoon, the work is far from over. A Divine Encounter Cafe hosts board meetings for local organizations, Bible studies, fellowship groups, parties, and even christening and funeral dinners. shuman says his restaurant is open to anyone who needs a place to meet. that’s what space is for, he said, she said.
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shuman works alongside his son, travis, and daughter-in-law, katarina, who describes the restaurant as “special,” “homey,” and “comfortable.” The two have witnessed firsthand the change in Betty’s life. Katarina says Betty’s faith can move mountains.
“she really inspires everyone around her, she inspired me and my husband to be able to share the good and the bad and be ourselves with her and those around us and know that everything is going to be okay”, katarina he said.
“they had seen the lord change my life: since I was arrested 15 years ago, I resisted arrest and got into a police car for my fourth duo, to become the woman I am today,” said shuman .
and is proud of her progress. Hanging on one wall of the cafe are a failing tenth grade report card and a police report from one of her arrests. Below is a recent article from a business people’s magazine, describing her journey and her success.
“there is a verse in the bible that says ‘she loves a lot because she has been forgiven’. I have been forgiven a lot. And that’s why we created this place. and every day is a beautiful blessing.”
Struggling to be a mentor and share her love, shuman has gone out of her way to employ people who are going through what she went through as a teenager.
“We’ve had two women work here with anklets, we’ve had a recovering drug addict work here and I like to think they’re a little better off for the time they spent here. they were prayed for every day.”
for more information about the cafeteria and to see its menu and hours, click here.
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