Union Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

PLEASE NOTE: Thanks to all those who have expressed interest in serving with us this summer. As of Dec. 2009, all available dates for June and July and August 2010 are booked.  Groups do sometimes cancel so check back regularly to see if additional weeks have opened up on our calendar.  Weekend stays are still available for non-summer months.  In addition, overnight stays for groups travelling through St. Louis on their way to or from a mission site are still possible through the year including some summer dates.

Update:  The week of June 7-12 is now open for groups seeking housing only. We can help suggest contacts in the city for mission work but would be unable to provide assistance for setting up projects.  Some weeks in August are also still available for groups seeking housing only.

Are you seeking a hands-on mission opportunity for your youth group, young-adult group or intergenerational group 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? Union Avenue Christian Church hosts its own Urban Mission Inn – dedicated space within our inner-city St. Louis church, designed to house up to 30 people (youth/adults/college students, etc.) who have come to the inner city for 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 areas for males and females (or however you would choose to divide the group) in newly carpeted and painted rooms;
• inflatable mattresses (to save you a little packing space in the van);
• bathrooms (with three on-site showers);
• extra towels, washcloths, soap, etc;
• commercial-quality kitchen space for preparing meals and storing food; and

• community lounge areas 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, senior centers, and other ministries and outreach organizations that might suit your group’s gifts. We can also offer suggestions for 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. See below images of the mission inn sleeping space and images of youth at work out in the city. (Click on the images below to enlarge.)

“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. 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 Rev. Brian Kirk [brianskirk at yahoo.com] for more information. We would suggest you email or call us with your proposed dates for your mission work. If those dates are available, we will pencil you in on our calendar. We will then forward you a group registration form. Once we recieve that form and the deposit, your group will be confirmed on our calendar.

See what some recent groups using the Urban Mission Inn have to say about their experience:

“Your accommodations were fabulous.  Without your program we would not have been able to accomplish a mission trip out of our own small town.”  Fredricktown Christian Church

“Way above what we would have expected for accommodations on a mission trip.  Extremely friendly for ages 10-70.  Would recommend to churches wishing to attend ‘Mission 101.’” Affton Christian Church

“We were welcomed very generously.  Thank you for the extravagant hospitality.  It is such a blessing to find a church with showers — not to mention one intentionally opening their doors to teenagers.”  Lee’s Summit Christian Church

“I was just hoping someone could host us but you gave us great contacts for work too.  It’s been a blessing to bring my ‘country’ youth to an urban setting and have such helpful guides.” First Christian Church, Pittsburgh

“This location was excellent for our trip. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. The staff was very kind and let us know anything we asked or needed to know. You all are truly a blessing and we thank you for allowing us to utilize your facility. This has been the best stay I’ve experienced out of my five alternative spring breaks!”  Ball State University

Union Avenue Christian Church is situated near downtown St. Louis, mere blocks from “The Loop” (a trendy neighborhood in nearby University City 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 (home of the St. Louis Cardinals), and Forest Park (home of the St. Louis Zoo, Science Center, Art Museum, and other free attractions).