Refresh Community Church is located in the 2nd ward of University City, MO. This community is an inner-ring suburb on the western boundary of St. Louis, Missouri. Home to over 35,000 residents, covering 6 square miles, U-City is a diverse and engaged community with a rich history. Nicknamed U-City, the city's name reflected the community's proximity to Washington University and the first mayor’s hope that it would become a center of learning and culture.
University City is known as one of the best places to live in Missouri. Many young professionals and families enjoy the proximity to restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. It is home to the Center Of Creative Arts (COCA) and the Delmar Loop. It is a place where it is easy to see the fullness and array of God’s image bearers.
Our building was purchased from the Kol Rinah synagogue in 2018 because of its location and is just a few blocks north of the infamous Delmar Divide. While the community’s racial demographics of 54% White, 34% African American, 7% Asian residents, reflects so much of what is beautiful in the greater St. Louis region, UCity is not experienced the same way by all of its residents. UCity is divided into three “wards”: 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The median income, home values, educational opportunities, and life outcomes in each ward fall in vastly different places on a continuum.
The vision of Refresh Community Church points to a future where not only are our heart refreshed, our relationships renewed, and our lives rebuilt, but our COMMUNITIES are RESTORED. As followers of Jesus we are commissioned beyond the local church context to proceed as a sent people, for His own possession (John 20:21, Isaiah 6:8, 1 Peter 2:9), called to be “streams of living water” wherever we go (John 7:38).
As God the Father sent His son, Jesus then invites and sends us, a broken and imperfect people, to join Him as He restores, redeems, and reconciles every part of culture.
The Gospel changes everything; starting inside and flowing out.
We want to be a church that is sent and sends others out into the world to be “streams of living water,” bringing blessing to the relationships and places of which we are a part.
University City is that place. We celebrate its beauty and we grieve its brokenness.
We partner with the University City School District to support and step into needs and disparities.
We provide mental health services and scholarships to promote health in the whole person, mind, body and spirit.
We pray for our community and its leaders.
We ❤️ Ucity.
Learn More about how you can love and serve with us. Click here to serve in the U-City School District.