Help with Caleb's Cafe

Before sending an email to support, please see if your issue is covered in the FAQ below.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

How do I find my group?
If you are looking for a "private" (invitation-only) group, click here. If you are looking for a public group, click the "Groups Directory" link in the blue menu bar above. If you are looking for a group you have already joined, click your "My Groups" link at the top of the page.

What's new in Caleb's Cafe?
If you used our 2005 version of Caleb's Cafe, there are a number of changes to the system that make it easier to use, and offer more options. Here are the main new features:

Your group's messages are now front & center
Messages and comments are auto-emailed to your group members (optional)
Group leaders have the ability to edit or delete any message and control Group Settings, as well as a host of other new abilities
Create the set of labels (categories) that work best for your group. Create as many as you'd like!
Message posting is fast and easy, with many actions occurring without the need to move among pages or redraw the screen
Post new messages to your group from any email program
You can easily create and move between multiple groups
A photo gallery is included with your site
File sharing is available as an upgrade
Group leaders can choose the kinds of articles & content that appear in your site
It's easy to invite new members to your group (use the People tab)

How do I edit or delete messages?
Unless you are the group leader (check under the People tab), you can only edit or delete your own messages. Just roll your mouse over the title of a post, and you'll see a menu pop up beside it with edit & delete options. For photos or files, simply use the edit/delete icons connected to that photo or file.

How do I post via an email message?
At the bottom of your group's homepage, you'll see an email address. Send an email to that address and it will automatically be posted to the site and emailed to all members. Group leaders can set or change the address using the Group Settings tab. Tip: you must send email from the email account you provided during signup. For example, if you provided "bob1970@yahoo.com," when you signed up for Caleb's Cafe, you must send email to your Caleb site from this yahoo account. You can always find your login email by clicking "Login Settings" in the top right menu area. Another tip: add your group's email address to your email program's address book. That way it will be easy to send messages when needed.

How do I invite a new person to join our group?
Just click on the People tab and then click the "Invite a person to join this group" link. Caleb's Cafe will send an invitation email to that person with a special link embedded in the email. When the person clicks on the link, they will be taken to a web page where they can accept or decline the invitation. If they accept, they will be led to create a free account (unless they already have one) and your group will automatically be added to their "My Groups" panel.

Can I choose not to be auto-emailed new messages & comments?
Yes, although we hope you'll leave it on (otherwise, you'll have to check your group's site to see what's new). To toggle the auto-emailing of messages & comments on or off, simply click on "My Groups" in the topmost menu area. A check box beside each group for which you are a member allows you to control the auto-emailing of messages and comments. You can change this setting as often as you wish. (Remember, "articles" auto-emailing is controlled by the group leader through "Group Settings," and his or her choice affects the entire group).

Can I choose not to be auto-emailed new articles or Bible studies?
Yes. The setting for auto-emailing is handled by your group leader through the Group Settings tab. Either everyone in a group gets auto-emailed the articles, or no one does. This can be changed as often as needed.

How do we add bold, italics, links or other formatting in our messages?
For now, feel free to use HTML formatting codes in message or comment areas. This handy chart offers instructions for commonly used formatting codes.

Is there a calendar included with our group's site?
Currently, we do not have a calendar function. Many groups find it helpful to create an Easy Page titled "Our Schedule" or "Upcoming Events" and then list events & activities by month and date (See example). This is quick and simple to update, and quick for members to view. We have looked at calendar options, but we found most of them to require a large amount of "clicks" to add, edit, or view items. Our goal for Caleb's Cafe is simplicity and ease of use.
If your group needs a full-featured calendar, you might look at creating a calendar on "Spongecell". You can add a link to your calendar by simply adding a message that includes the web address, and then use the "favorite links" label for that message.

How do I upload a file?
Need to share a PDF, Word document, or other file with your group? Simply click on the "Files" tab, then click on "upload file." You will be prompted to locate the file, and allowed to add a description for it. Click "upload" and the file will become available for download by others in your group. You can edit the description or delete the file at any time, using the icons connected to the file. (The "File" area is only available to groups on the Silver or Gold subscription plans. Your group leader can upgrade your group's site).

Where did my Premium Content menu go and how do I get it back?
Your Premium Content menu vanishes when the password you entered expires. Every 4 months a new password arrives on the back of your new teaching guide. To re-enable Premium Content, your Caleb's Cafe group leader simply obtains the new password from the back of your teaching guide and enters it in the Premium Content area of "Group Settings" in your group's site. When this is done, the Premium Content menu will re-appear and be connected to the new trimester of materials for the duration of that trimester. Click here to learn more about Premium Content.

Group Leader Questions

What does the Group Leader do?
The group leader manages your group's Caleb's Cafe account and can upgrade or downgrade your subscription plan. The group leader can also invite new members to your group (People tab), remove people from your group, edit or delete any messages, photos, or files on your group's site. Finally, the group leader chooses particular settings for your group, such as the group's name, the unique group email address, which kinds of articles appear under the "articles" tab, and whether or not your group is public or private (invitation only).

How do we choose to get adult or youth-oriented articles?
Group leaders can adjust the selection of Caleb's Cafe articles that appear in your group's area. The selection affects the entire group and can be adjusted at any time by the group leader by accessing the Group Settings tab.

Where do I find the "Group Settings" tab?
Only the group leader can see this tab on your group's homepage on the far right of the menu bar.

How do we change the Group Leader for our group?
The current group leader must make the change. The leader needs to click on your group's "People" tab and then click the "change the group leader" link, and choose another member of the group to become the leader. Group leaders can be changed as often as needed.

How can I delete a group I created?
To delete a group you created, click on the "Group Settings" link. Once on the "Group Settings" page, click on "Change Your Plan." This will take you to a new page. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Cancel my plan, delete my group and lose all data." The system will give you an "Are You Sure?" message. If you are sure you want to delete your group, click "OK" and your group will be deleted.

Easy Page Questions

How are other groups using Easy Pages?
Easy Pages are very simple web pages that you can make open to the Internet (even while your group stays private, if you wish).

Keep Details Handy: Since other messages move down your homepage as new messages are posted, Easy Pages provide a way to keep important information quickly available to your group. Use Easy Pages to keep details of an upcoming trip, project or activity in front of your group members.
About Our Group: Post a public web page with basic information about your group (who it's for, where & when it meets, who to contact for more information, directions, etc.). Give the web address (shown at the bottom of any Easy Page) to visitors or print it on advertisements, or link to it from your church's website.
Schedule: Most every group needs a schedule. Keeping a list of activities and events organized by month is quick and easy for members to check. Since the page can be made public (if you wish), group members can bookmark the schedule Easy Page and check it as often as they'd like, without having to login to the group site.
Committee Work: Committees and other working teams can use Easy Pages to share upcoming agenda items, brainstorm ideas, or other information that team members need to keep handy.
Flyers: Sometimes your group may have an event or activity that they wish to announce to the whole church, or the community. Create an Easy Page that acts as a flyer for the event, and then share the web address for that page.
Public Photos: After a mission trip or other event, your group might want to share photos of the event with others outside their group. Create an Easy Page and add photos to it, then send the web address to others so they can enjoy the photos too. Of course, your group's site and photo galleries remain completely private, if your site is invitation-only.
Brainstorming Lists: Because you can set Easy Pages to "Limit to group users", they are a great tool for brainstorming. Create an Easy Page to collect ideas for trips (where should we go?), projects (what should we do?), or other issues. Members can each edit the page to add their ideas, and everyone can see the page as it develops.
Custom Bible Study: Some groups create their own Bible study materials. Easy Pages make a great way to share the coming Bible Study with your group members. It's always just a click away in their right sidebar on your group's homepage.

What are Easy Pages?
Easy Pages are very simple web pages that can be made public on the Internet (or kept private within your group). Many groups use Easy Pages to keep a group schedule (it's easy to update as new events are added), or to provide an "online brochure" for your group. Because Easy Pages stay listed in the sidebar, they will stay available (unlike messages, which roll down the page as new messages are added). That makes them handy for holding information that members may want to access across time.

See additional information and ideas for creating and using Easy Pages on the Easy Pages area of your group's site (found in the right sidebar on your group's homepage). Need more Easy Pages? Simply upgrade your group's subscription plan (your group leader can do this) to add more Easy Pages.

How do I create a new Easy Page?
Under "Current Pages" click the "create a new page" link. A new page is added to the list, and is named, "new easy page." Use the row of buttons (Edit Body, Add Images, Sharing, Delete Page) to edit your Easy Page title, body, and images. At the bottom of your Easy Page you can choose how to share the page (either limited to group members, or public on the internet). The web address for viewing the page is provided under the "Sharing" heading. If your page is public, feel free to distribute that page's web address so others can view your page. You can edit the contents of your Easy Pages as often as you wish.

How can we format text in Easy Pages?
Currently, Easy Pages use a simple formatting approach called "textile." Using these codes, you can adjust how your text appears. Click here to view a handy formatting guide (you might want to print this for easy access).

How do we get more Easy Pages?
Add more Easy Pages to your group's site by upgrading your subscription plan. Your Group Leader can do this through the "Group Settings" tab (only available to the Group Leader).

Photo Questions

How do I upload a photo?
Want to share a photo with your group? Simply click on the "Photos" link in your group's sidebar, then click on "upload photo." You will be prompted to locate the photo, and allowed to add a description for it. Click "upload" and the photo will become available for viewing by others in your group. You can edit the description or delete the photo at any time, using the icons connected to the photo. More space for photos can be added by upgrading your group's subscription plan. Tips for reducing the storage size of photos can be found in the Photos area of your group's site.

How to reduce the size of photos to save storage space
Making your photos smaller can allow you to share more photos in your group's storage space allotment. If you need an easy-to-use approach to reducing photo size, try this free service: http://resize2mail.com. Just follow their instructions to reduce the size of your photos and then upload the resulting smaller photo files to your site's photo gallery.

How to edit photo captions
Under each photo, a caption is shown, as well as the label for that photo. Under the label, two icons allow you to edit the caption, choose a different label or delete the photo.

How to delete photos
Under each photo, a caption is shown, as well as the label for that photo. Under the label, two icons allow you to edit the caption, choose a different label or delete the photo.

How to use labels to organize photos
On your group's photos page, the right sidebar includes "Sort Photos." Under "Sort Photos" are labels you can use to organize photos into collections. Simply click on "Edit Photo Labels" to add or delete photo labels. Tip: before you add a new set of photos, create a new label for that collection. Then, as you upload each photo, choose that label for it. Group members can then click on that label under "Sort Photos" to view only the photos in that collection.

How do we increase our storage space?
Each group is provided a set amount of storage space, which is shared between photos, Easy Page photos, and Files. Add more storage space to your group's site by upgrading your subscription plan. Your Group Leader can do this through the "Group Settings" tab (only available to the Group Leader).

Subscription Plan Questions

How to we find our current subscription plan level?
The Group Leader (only) clicks on the "Group Settings" tab. The current plan is listed near the top of the page. The Group Leader can also adjust the plan up or down as needed.

How do we adjust our subscription plan level or (gasp!) cancel our group's site?
Only the group leader can adjust a subscription plan level. That person simply clicks on "Group Settings" and then on "Subscription Plan." On the subscription plan page, the group leader can upgrade, downgrade, or (gasp!) cancel your group's site.

For Silver and Gold Subscription Plans, how does payment work?
Group Leaders are responsible for managing payments for Silver and Gold Subscription Plans, and must use a valid credit card. (Free accounts are not required to provide credit card information.) The credit card will be immediately charged when the Group Leader creates a new group with the Silver or Gold Subscription Plan. The same credit card will be billed monthly starting on the 30th day after the initial creation date for your account. For an upgrade or downgrade from a Silver or Gold Subscription Plan, the credit card provided by the Group Leader at group creation will automatically be charged the new rate on your next billing date.

Put simply:
The credit card attached to your group's account is charged immediately if:
1) A new group is created with the Silver or Gold Subscription group
2) A group using the Free Subscription Plan is upgraded to a Silver or Gold Plan
Note: When your group upgrades/downgrades from a Silver or Gold Plan, the credit card is charged the new rate on the NEXT billing cycle.

Silver and Gold Subscription Plans are billed in advance on a monthly basis and this payment is non-refundable. There are no refunds or credits for partial months of service, upgrade/downgrade refunds, or refunds for months unused with an open account. Silver and Gold Subscription Plan fees are exclusive of all taxes. Downgrading your Service may cause the loss of content, features, or storage capacity for your group's site. Caleb's Cafe does not accept any liability for such loss. (See the Subscription Plan chart for details of the features and capabilities included with each plan).

How do other groups pay for their upgraded site?
There are three ways most groups handle paying for an upgraded Caleb's Cafe group.
1) The Church or sponsoring organization pays the subscription fee using their credit card. (Since Silver & Gold Plans include Bible study curriculum, some churches handle the monthly fees through their curriculum budget line-and save money, too).
2) The group leader uses a personal credit card. Group members pitch in each month to reimburse the group leader.
3) The group leader uses a personal credit card and pays for the service on behalf of the group.

Can we have our church billed for our Caleb's Cafe site?
Yes, you can, but we can only bill on an annual basis. For details, email support@calebscafe.com. Check with your minister to see what's possible through your church budget. Of course, if you church has a credit card, that is the easiest way to handle payment for your group. We can even consolidate the payments for multiple groups into one charge, to make bookkeeping easier.

Still have a question?
Want to request a feature or make a suggestion?
Need to report a bug?

Email us at support@calebscafe.com