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When James Jones opened Kairos Kafe at 515 University Boulevard in Birmingham last December, few people realized the hurdle he had to overcome to become a restaurant owner.

Jones, who today cooks meals and runs Kairos Katering, the parent company of the cafe housed in the former Ollie's Barbecue building, says he was a far different person 15 years ago while growing up a reckless teenager in Phenix City.

Jones said he succumbed to peer pressure and began using drugs. That led to his arrest at age 20 on drug charges in Florida. He spent nearly seven years serving in Florida and Alabama prisons.

"When I first got arrested, I thought my life was pretty much over," Jones recently recalled while taking a break from his kitchen at Kairos Kafe. "But I had two praying grandmothers and other friends who helped me get my life together." Jones said his life began its turnaround when he discovered the Bible while in prison in Montgomery. After joining a Bible study group at Donaldson Correctional Facility in Jefferson County nearly a decade ago, Jones met Steve Longenecker, his current pastor at Grace & Truth Church, which is also housed in the former Ollie's building.

Longenecker, who works with ex-drug users through a program at UAB, was leading Bible studies at Donaldson prison as part of a kairos prison ministry. "Kairos" is Greek for "God's special moment," a reason Jones picked it as the name of his restaurant.

Shortly after Grace & Truth began worship services in the old Ollie's building in 1999, Jones - who is a member of the church - approached Longenecker and the church's elders about the possibility of using the kitchen adjacent to the sanctuary to start a catering business.

Longenecker, one of more than a dozen investors in Kairos Kafe, said church leaders saw an opportunity to serve the community and give Jones a chance at starting his own business.

"I've worked with a lot of people in prison, and James is special," Longenecker said. "With a lot ex-prisoners, their behavioral change is only temporary. With James, his change was internal."

Upon being released from prison at age 26, Jones settled in Birmingham to pursue a career in the restaurant business, praying that someone would take a chance on hiring an ex-con.

He got his first chance when hired as a waiter at Leonardo's Italian Restaurant in Vestavia Hills. He spent seven years there, advancing into management before starting Kairos Kafe.

Jones, who will hold an official grand-opening ceremony on May 4, said many of his recipes were inspired by his late grandmother. He is excited about the future of his restaurant, which this summer is adding a Saturday brunch and dinner menu.

"This has been a dream for me since I was a kid," Jones said. "It's amazing how God brought it all together."

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