Missions-St. Andrews Center

St. Andrews Center opened its doors in 2005 in the former St. Andrews UMC location in the Highland Park area of Chattanooga, after the Church closed in June 2004, because of dwindling membership. At present, it houses a consortium of ministries. The center director, United Methodist pastor Mike Feely, sees it developing into three areas: a place where groups come to rent inexpensive space for mission and ministry; a place of common ground where “people come together and find ways to work together” in such venues as a coffee house or fair-trade center; and a destination for urban ministry where colleges locate satellite classes and offer field education. At present the facility houses the Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition, the Church, a weekly Tennessee Temple University-led service for college students and young adults, an after-school program for kindergarten through fifth grade Hispanic children, and a bilingual Girl Scout troop. St. Andrews Center is supported by grants and donations from churches and individuals. Offices for Bridge Refugee Services and Interfaith Hospitality Network are expected to be located there as well.