2023 Young Adult and Campus Ministry Grant Recipient - United Campus Ministry La Crosse
United Campus Ministry La Crosse $1000
Diocese of Eau Claire
Coffee Project
College can be one of the most challenging periods of a young adult’s life, it can also set the stage for how adults engage with their community for a lifetime. God calls us to build and sustain young adults’ personal relationships during their spiritual exploration, growth, and life discernment at college. Christ Episcopal Church of La Crosse, Wisconsin, partners with local parishes and regional church bodies to engage and invigorate the young adult community of 18,000 undergraduate and grad students at three local colleges. These colleges are all located within a two mile radius of the United Campus Ministry building “Common Ground.” We are re-energizing this ministry following a closure during the COVID pandemic. Now we are bringing students who live in the dorms and neighborhoods back inside as we provide opportunities to learn, lead, and train students to actively engage back outside in the community by responding to basic human needs. This grant will enable us to offer refreshments and a welcoming atmosphere in and around our building to help them grow into the unique, loved, and talented individuals God created them to be. This building is fully paid for, with five rented apartments which fund the annual operation and maintenance requirements of the building. Common Ground building is in a key location with superb infrastructure. This grant will help us support students as we develop ways students and faith partners can serve an economically diverse community which includes students experiencing food and clothing insecurity. Inviting students to be an active part of local ministry engages them to leverage their gifts to meet the needs of others. Refreshments and meals are part of expanding our mission to the students. Improvements to our sacred gathering space will help us nurture each other, create lasting friendships, and experience God’s power, presence, and peace to heal a broken world. Intergenerational mentors will listen and support students as they candidly wrestle with faith, hopes, and doubts as they are fed both physically and spiritually.