Organization
An outgrowth of Refuge and Restoration Church, the agency exists to support the church’s outreach ministries. Until recently, it provided services such as job training and marriage counseling. It is poised to dramatically grow through the new Springwood Plaza Faith Project.
Partnership
North St. Louis County has long suffered from a lack of development and deteriorating employment opportunities. Seeing an opportunity to engage the faith community in revitalizing the community, Pastors Ken and Beverly Jenkins embarked on an ambitious quest to purchase and transform a long-vacant property in Dellwood. When complete, the complex will house a job training center, co-working space to incubate new businesses, a quality early childhood education center, banking facility, and dialysis center. Refuge and Restoration Church will also relocate to the plaza. The organization should be self-sufficient within 18 months. The Brown Sisters Foundation became the first local funder of this endeavor by issuing a challenge grant to attract donations from individual, foundation, and business. The goal is to raise $7.5 million to purchase and renovate the property.