A FAMILY PLACE: HOUSE OF PRAYER SERVES FOOD FOR BODY AND SOUL

The sign painted on the restaurant window reads "Soul Food," and that's an accurate description of the bill of fare, which includes all manner of things barbecued, greens, corn bread, sweet potato pie and, some days, chitlins.

But the House of Prayer Family Place serves up another kind of soul food. "This is a ministry to shelter, clothe, feed and bring hope to inner city youth," says the Rev. Jo Anne McCauley, founder and senior pastor of the House of Prayer church.

The restaurant, which opened in January, is staffed by volunteers who are members of McCauley's church. Profits are turned back into the church's outreach programs.

"People are putting their gifts into action," McCauley said.

A few of the waiters and bus boys are teen-agers who've gotten into trouble and have been sentenced to community service.

"We're here to show them you can get into a legit business," McCauley says. "You don't have to sell drugs."

McCauley started her church in a Good Hope beauty shop in 1989. In 1995, the church opened a video arcade called Hip Hop Heaven, another attempt to provide guidance for the city's young people.

Not long ago, the 75-member church relocated to 13 N. Sprigg Street. While holding dinners to raise money to pay for its building, the wisdom of funding good works with barbecue sauce became apparent.

"So many people don't like to cook but they like a home-cooked meal," McCauley said. She finds herself sitting down to a plate of ribs at the Family Place quite often. "I eat here a lot," she said. "I don't have time to cook."

She currently has an outreach ministry under way in Charleston, has been preaching and singing in Marion, Ill., and will begin a street crusade in June."

"We are determined to bring change," McCauley said.

The Family Place is indeed familial. McCauley's mother and father, Laura and Reece Ware, are the primary cooks, with Reece specializing in barbecue and Laura in everything else.

"I learned (to cook) from having a house full of children to feed," Laura Ware said. Reece owned a barbecue restaurant for awhile.

Working in the restaurant is "a major job," she said. "But I enjoy doing things for people and I enjoy serving people."

People always have referred to her home as "Muh's place," and the Family Place quickly has been nicknamed "Muh's Place."

McCauley's husband, Leroy, and her sister Edith Davis also get their share of the cooking duties.

Another regular face in the restaurant is that of the Rev. Scott Porter, pastor of the non-denominational House of Prayer.

The simply-decorated restaurant building at 316 S. Sprigg St. formerly housed a bar and a private club.

McCauley said she sees young people around town who seem to have nothing to do. An industrious enterprise like the House of Prayer Family Place is an attempt to provide a different example.

"We need to bring a vision to young people about entrepreneurship," she said.

"...The House of Prayer is determined to make a difference. You can be productive."

The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.