"Not to us,
O Lord,
not to us,
but to your name be
the glory, because of
your love and faithfulness."
Psalm 115: 1, (NIV)

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for larger image.

408 East St. Clair - Home of
The City Mission 1964-1992


Administration Building - '91


Adminstration building now

October, 2000

"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of
your love and faithfulness." Psalm 115: 1, (NIV)

Unprecedented growth over last 15 years

Call it "history" if you will, but what a joy it is to recall the many instances of God's faithfulness. In recounting our history, we proclaim His faithfulness in meeting physical needs in big ways, such as buildings, or in small ways, such as a hot meal and a clean bed. We proclaim His faithfulness in meeting spiritual needs, in bringing hope, healing and restoration to hurting people.

In the previous two October issues of His Hands, we recounted the highlights of The City Mission under the leadership of George Soerheide (1910-1945) and Rev. Clifton Gregory (1948 - 1985). When Rev. Harry Banfield assumed leadership in 1985, he could not have anticipated what God had in mind for the future of The City Mission. Indeed, it was a time in which God would do immeasurably more than anyone ever imagined (Ephesians 3: 20).

The first major expansion began in 1986 with the construction of the Clifton Recreation Center at Grand Valley Christian Center. At the same time, an existing building, which was formerly a hunting lodge, was renovated into a dining hall.

Meanwhile, the downtown warehouse district was undergoing revitalization and the building, which housed the Men's Ministry and Youth Program, was designated as historic. The City Mission Board of Trustees determined that it was not financially feasible to remain at that site. There were many setbacks in the search for a new home. Over the course of three years, 46 potential sites were visited, but none worked out, often because there was neighborhood opposition.

However, behind these apparent adverse circumstances, God was paving the way for The City Mission to acquire not just one building, but nearly three and a half acres in the heart of the Midtown Corridor with two existing buildings and sufficient space for additional buildings, parking and open grassy areas. By November, 1991, The City Mission held the deeds on six properties, including a former business site, an apartment building, the former site of the Jane Adams School, and three private lots.

With deeds in hand The City Mission Board of Trustees and staff caught the vision for an entire campus, consisting of an administration building, a youth building, an apartment building for transitional housing and a building for men's ministry. By June 1992, sufficient financial commitments had been made to commence renovation and construction. The cost of the entire construction project was $6.25 million, all financed through private funding.

One of the buildings, formerly the headquarters of the Blonders Company was renovated for administrative offices. An existing apartment building was brought up to code to provide temporary housing for the Men's Ministry until a new facility could be constructed. Later, this building, now known as the Banfield Building, was renovated into apartments to provide transitional housing for men who had completed the recovery program and are saving funds to acquire their own housing. The Banfield Building also houses families.