How About an Urban Mission Trip?

Still seeking a hands-on mission opportunity for your youth this summer but not sure where to start or how to plan such a big project?

Why not consider a trip to the inner city for an urban mission experience? My metropolitan St. Louis congregation hosts its own Urban Mission Inn -- dedicated space within our inner city church which is designed to house around 30 people (youth/adults/college students, etc.) who have come to the inner city for a mission work (or those groups who are passing through St. Louis on their way to do mission elsewhere and need a "port in the storm").

We provide:

• separate sleeping rooms for males and females (or however you would choose to divide the group) newly carpeted and painted
• inflatable mattresses (to save you a little packing space in the van)
• bathrooms
• access to offsite showers (for a modest per person/per day cost)
• extra towels, washcloths, soap, and other little amenities
• kitchen space for preparing meals and storing food
• a community lounge area perfect for group worship or discussion time.

But wait! There's more! In addition to providing space, we also offer help in planning your urban experience by assisting you, if needed, in setting up volunteer opportunities at local food pantries, homeless shelters, programs for inner city children, nursing homes, and other ministries and outreach organizations that might suit your groups' gifts. We will also offer help in scheduling other cultural activities unique to St. Louis to help enrich your urban experience. Groups are invited to stay for anywhere from a week to just a weekend.

Our church is situated near downtown St. Louis, mere blocks from "The Loop" (a trendy street that caters to colleges students and offers a host of ethnic restaurants, affordable fast food, and shops) as well as being conveniently located near the St. Louis arch and riverfront, Busch Stadium, and Forest Park (home of the city zoo, science center, art museum, and other free attractions).

"Great," your thinking, "but what will this cost?" Though we welcome any donation a group might want to give to this outreach ministry, we only ask a "save-the-date" deposit of $100 per group which is returned to you in full following your visit (as mentioned above, there is a fee for use of offsite showers). Our main goal is to provide a welcoming space for those who are coming to help the "least of these" in the St. Louis area.

So, if you are interested in offering your group an experience of the sights, sounds and challenges of the inner city while putting their faith into action, please feel free to contact me for more information.

-- Brian