THE LORD'S CAFE
By Christopher Quah
If you google for scones in Cameron Highlands, chances are you would always end up with the Lord’s Café in Tanah Rata. The quaint little café tucked among the row of shophouses has become a household name among the travelers that come to enjoy the chilling weather of the Cameron’s.
It’s a very homely environment, reminiscent to an English cottage with Christian paraphilia, such as memory verses, and pictures making it a popular place to visit. But it is the food they serve especially the scones that make them famous among Cameron Highland visitors.
But the story of the café itself isn’t about good food or popularity. In fact, it is about the Lord’s guidance and provision.
Sister Terese, the manager of café gave Asian Beacon the privilege to share their story and why it was named the Lord’s Café. Her only request is that we don’t take her picture. She and the staffs choose to be low profile as she explained that the café is all about giving God the glory.
Terese explained that the café was established in 2001. Prior to this, the café was named Tea Café. But somewhere around 2007, the owners were led, under God’s guidance to change the name of the café to something related to the Faith.
“Why was the named changed to The Lord café? This was because the owners wanted it to be a place of opportunity to share the gospel. When someone asked about the story behind the name, we gladly tell them about the Lord who inspired the name,” she said.
At first, they were not sure what name they should use but took the step of faith anyway.
“In obedience to God, we began the preparation work of changing the name; praying for guidance. Then someone came and told us, that he had a word from God regarding His plan for the place. He said he knew that we were trying to change its name in order to give Him the glory. So the person pointed us to the sign board of the café which was Tea Café at that time. Turning the sign upside down, the letter T at the front of the board appeared to look like the letter L due to the font used. Immediately we knew that it would be called the Lord’s Café – thanks to the inspiration of the T turned L.,” Terese explained.
It was this upside-down letter T that now became the L which was used as sort of, a standard trademark for the Lord’s Café menu and signboard today. From there, the main image on the menu was also changed, to that of a dove with wings of gold and silver. This image, Terese explained is taken from Psalms 68:13 which is about protection, “When you like down among the sheepfolds, You are like the wings of a dove covered with silver, and it’s pinions with glistening gold.”
As to further confirm this, the café owners received a gift from a café patron that had come from overseas.
“It was during the time around 2007 that the name change was about to take place, that someone sent us a special souvenir tablet from England. The words inscribed on the tablet fits the Lord’s Café purpose exactly which is “As for me and the household we will serve the Lord.” This was like a confirmation for us to change the name into the Lord’s Café,” Terese explained.
The tablet since then, has become one of the centrepieces of the café.
Terese also added that God has provided the Café with other pieces to decorate the place with.
“Since we live in Malaysia, we have to be mindful about others especially when it comes to putting up a cross in a business place. Yet someone gave us this special cross from Slovenia. The Slovenian cross looks nothing like the usual Western Cross. It’s so different, that only the staff, and those who are curious enough to ask will find out,” Terese added.
Terese said that since the café’s dedication there has never been a lack of provision in the form of customers.
“Ever since the name of the café is now dedicated to the Lord, we don’t do much promotion. Unlike during the time as Tea Café that we had to try to get a lot of promotion from bloggers and the media. But after we changed the name to the Lord’s Café, we started all over, but this time God came in. In fact, we don’t do any advertising at all. It is God who keeps sending people here. God is our advertiser. The one who brings people here. We don’t have to do promotion and yet people still keep coming,” Terese continued her story.
Terese then goes on to explain the reason why the Lord’s Café is a hotspot for visitors both local and abroad alike is because of its famous scones. The scone itself has an interesting story.
“When we first started making scones, we were unaware that it had any special significance to do with the café, or that it would be famous. Then I came across this passage from the Catholic lectionary on 1 Kings 17:10-16. The story of the widow making scones for Elijah. The word scone is particularly glaring here. But it’s only in the Catholic lectionary, and not in other Bible translations,” Terese said pointing it out.
“In another passage, 1 Kings 19:5-8, it talks about an angel sent by God who provided Elijah with a scone, or in other translations cake bake with bread. I find this passage also connects to our scones. It talks once again about the Lord’s provision. Where did the angel get the scones? I find it amazing. And just like that, God has provided us with these scones that have become our bestsellers. In fact, everyone seems to love our scones,”
Like a divine sign, the scones seemed to have a special connection with the café’s purpose of helping single mothers and women, like how the widow baked scones for Elijah.
“I think that God is trying to tell us, that this bread, the scones, is blessed by Him. In fact, ever since we started baking them, the scones very interestingly have some sort of a cut in the middle, no matter the batch. When I first saw it, it reminded me of Jesus breaking the bread for His disciples at the Lord’s Supper. It reminds me of the bread of God, broken and dipped in wine,”
Terese explained that the café only hires women staff. The reason is because the café is also about helping women make a living.
“We hire a lot of stay at home mothers. This is a part of our ministry here. Any surplus the café gets, we give to single mothers, and those women who want to go to study in universities. We also use the money to supplement women in their seventies and above who don’t have an income,” Terese explained.
And just like that the Lord has blessed the café with so many customers that it can meet the needs of all the women under its care.
On top of that the Lord’s Café does other charitable deeds. They also help out with the Orang Asli.
“Those who come here, are welcomed to leave used clothes, pots and pans, which we take and give to the kampong Orang Asli as donations,” Terese added.
Terese explained despite the cafe’s success, she and the rest are just the servers. The true owner is God.
