A Century of Service

The people of the Grand Avenue Temple have served the people of the downtown Kansas City community since their beginnings. By the time the Temple was dedicated in February, 1912, the church was a longstanding hub of activity for both religious and community based events.

Serving not only the community's Methodists, the church's interdenominational legacy and popularity are legion, having hosted many lectures and addresses under the auspices of the Federation of Churches and other societies. With it's location almost in the heart of the Kansas City business district, it attracted a wide range of people, from fine hotels nearby to those in boarding houses and local YMCA and YWCA dormitories . Ministers of other denominations, members of other churches, city government officials leaders in various civic and social associations maintained their interest and public commendations the the church and its work and countless testimonials have been received over the years.

In November, 1913, the Grand Avenue Temple became the home of the “Noonday Club, the club without officers or organization.” From 11am until 2pm, six days a week, the assembly room became a great sitting room, with rocking-chairs, couches, tables covered with magazines, the piano with music at hand, and other tables set for luncheon. Business women and girls, who would otherwise have eaten their luncheons at their places of business, were invited to bring their lunch to the rearranged assembly room and enjoy their noon hour in quietness and rest. Coffee, tea and cocoa were served and donations to support the club were accepted.

From that day to this, one fact remains constant. The people of Grand Avenue Temple always reach out in meaningful ways to bring comfort and hope to those whom it would benefit. In the early days, it spawned Methodist churches throughout the midwest. In the shadow of suburban sprawl, during the early 1980's, it helped found ReStart as the leader in the collaboration of churches serving the neglected homeless community.

As the rebirth of a downtown population revitalizes the area, sojourners, the people who reside temporarily in the area with little or no shelter, have relied on the Grand Avenue Temple as a resource in their efforts to reestablish themselves in the community.

In recent years, the Grand Avenue Temple once again addressed the needs of the local community in founding Lazarus Table, an organization to feed, provide medical services and assistance to area sojourners and notably, its women's shelter during the coldest months provided safety, hot meals and most importantly, an opportunity for these women to focus on rebuilding their lives with the love and support of a community of caring people around them.