21 May ICYMI: Street and Student Ministries’ Financial Ask

Hi all,

I wanted to take just a moment to bring you up to speed on something really amazing that we began to do last Sunday.

In case you missed it, we talked at length about the growth and needs of both Mosaic Street Ministry and Student Ministry (actually, please watch the service if you missed it. It is that good and that compelling. Plus you’ll get to see a positive news story about Mosaic Church that aired on KXAN on May 7!).

Here’s the headline:

Over the past year during the pandemic, the homeless population in Austin has grown considerably, as you might imagine. As a result, the number of people who we serve weekly has more than doubled on average, and at times tripled and quadrupled.

The question becomes: where can we serve this vulnerable population?

Pre-Covid, we had some space in our lobby that was mostly functional for this purpose. During the pandemic, we relocated our ministry space outside. Now, as we return to having in-person gatherings and our weekly attendance quickly climbs, we find ourselves needing to create a new “home” for our homeless friends.

Our solution would also necessitate something we have already desired to do, which is to create an additional space for student ministry, an “unbreakable space for breakable stuff” that they do.

So, here are three questions I’ll ask and answer, quickly:

1. What is Mosaic wanting to build?

Actually, we don’t need to “build” anything. We already have the space on our campus to do all that we need! So, we are proposing to:

a.) Beautifully landscape the area on the right side of Building C (our office building across Jekel Circle). This would be created to serve the homeless, rain or shine, each weekend.
b.) Finish out the currently unrenovated space on the other side of the wall from the soon-to-be-landscaped area, for offices for our Street Ministry Team, and to serve as a supply area.
c.) Finishing out that space would necessitate a relocation of what Student Ministries currently utilized that area for (they’ve been somewhat using that unrenovated space). Moving them would mean we would also finish out another unrenovated area in Building C for Student Ministry, with carpet, baseboards, ceiling tiles, and office/storage space.

2. How much does all this cost?

Only $65,000! We already own the property, have the space, have gotten the bids and drawn out the plans. All we need now, as you heard me say on Sunday, is your faith, and perhaps a portion of your stimulus check! All kidding aside, I would like to ask you to consider giving today, if you have not already, towards this strategic advancement of one way we serve the community and another way of ministering to our teens.

We are desiring, obviously, to get started on this as quickly as possible and need your help to do so.

3. How can I give?

You can go, right now, to our website or app, and look for the drop-down option of “Building,” and do your giving there.

Thank you for partnering in this as we continue to be the church of Jesus.

I believe, as I always say, that the city is better when the church of Jesus is there.

I’m looking forward to giving you an update on this as we gather this Pentecost Sunday.

See you then,

Morgan