The mission of the Renaissance Center is to center our community with Christ through outreach programs which empower adults, children, and families to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, to alleviate the underlying causes of poverty, and to enable all of us to attain our fullest potential through Christ as individuals and as members of the broader society. We strive to provide a strong Christian foundation in order to create a safe and respectful environment where we support each other in our struggles for self-esteem, recovery, and the confidence to move toward self-actualization.

The Renaissance Center (The Center) will achieve its mission through Christian based services comprised of prayer (House of Prayer), a hybrid coffee shop (Peace and Coffee), a range of housing solutions (No Roof), volunteer opportunities (Help a Stranger) including medical services, and other comprehensive services. We are focused on promoting a strong Christian foundation in order to sustain an environment of people helping people.

We believe that all persons are entitled to decent nourishment, affordable housing and access to quality education, employment, and health care. Through good work and positive recognition of each individual’s unique talents and gifts, everyone can achieve these basic needs.

We believe in the transformational power of Christ and building relationships and community as the ultimate answer to the degradation of homelessness, poverty, and society. Through our words and works, we will continue to reflect the life of Christ.

We believe that the critical resources entrusted to us to achieve our mission must be managed honorably and professionally.  Through a guiding Board of Directors and professional volunteers and professional services we will ensure our professionalism.

Vision

Our vision is to labor with God to bring His kingdom in the La Crosse community through ceaseless worship and prayer and by serving the community through outreach programs that assist people with spiritual, emotional, and physical needs.

The Center

The House of Prayer

The House of Prayer is the heartbeat of The Center. The La Crosse House of Prayer opened in 2001 with a group of individuals embracing a vision for 24/7 worship and intercession. In June of 2007, the book, “Red Moon Rising”, by Peter Greig, was introduced to some of the visionaries of the La Crosse House of Prayer. After a few meetings and much prayer, it was decided to begin prayer vigils at locations of the Lord’s directing as renewed steps toward the ultimate goal of 24/7/365 worship and intercession in the Coulee Region. La Crosse Christian Church, Prayer Valley, Cornerstone Community Church, Rivers Harvest Church, and First Free Church graciously opened their doors to the La Crosse House of Prayer over the next several months as the vision continued. In September 2008 the La Crosse House of Prayer united with the Renaissance Center adding the key element of worship and intercession to the vision. The desired goal is to see downtown La Crosse with a permanent 24/7 prayer room by September, 2009.

Peace & Coffee

Referred to by some as a “Community Kitchen”, P&C will be a counter service deli and coffee shop with a twist, there is no charge. P&C will bring an acknowledgement to a social problem while cultivating connections between the diverse populations of La Crosse. Patrons donate what they can or feel compelled to; in the form of cash or volunteering. Patrons are encouraged to volunteer by cooking, cleaning, and serving.  The model for this unique idea can be found in a number of venues throughout the US, most notably are the efforts of www.oneworldeverybodyeats.com.

No Roof

Homelessness is a growing issue in La Crosse, each year hundreds of people are turned away from the local shelters.  Our purpose is to help those families in need through a number of means including: meeting their basic needs, requiring them to work or pay their own way, not enabling them to continue the cycle by becoming dependent on us, encouraging Biblical principles and not accepting any government funding. We will turn the second floor of The Center into an emergency shelter with individual spaces for 10 families and work with local hotels to provide inexpensive vouchers for extended stays of those seeking our assistance.

Help a Stranger

The heart for service is in all of us, from opening a door to donating money. We see the community at large wanting to find ways to serve, but with a lack of organization. Most churches have the heart to reach out and serve the community, but lack ways to effectively manage their efforts. We will use technology to better connect those who want to serve with those who need assistance utilizing a web based social network.