Craving connection? Christ United Methodist Ministry Center might just be your haven. This isn’t just a church. It’s a bustling hub serving San Diego’s vulnerable. Christ United Methodist Church began in 1911. In June 2011, it became Christ Ministry Center. It is an ecumenical non-profit. It is faith-based. It is an urban ministry center.
Imagine a place open seven days a week. It welcomes the unhoused. It serves those needing food or clothing. Refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers find support here. Christ United Methodist Ministry Center truly embodies its mission. The mission is multifaceted. It provides worship space. It offers religious education. It fosters fellowship. It serves as a base for charitable organizations. These groups focus on public benefit ministries. These ministries feed the hungry. They clothe the naked. They befriend strangers. They care for the imprisoned. They minister to the sick. They quench spiritual thirst.
Pastor Owens says that Christ United Methodist Ministry Center serves people from 29 countries. These people come from every continent except Australia. The unhoused find clothing and charging stations here. Bathrooms are also available. Fifteen AA groups meet here. One group is specifically for the blind. This shows the diverse outreach of Christ United Methodist Ministry Center.
Christ United Methodist Ministry Center is home to diverse congregations. These include 7th-Day Adventists. The Hispanic-Latino Ministry finds a home here. So does the SD Marshallese Church. It acts as an incubator for new congregations. Established ethnically diverse churches thrive here.
In 2016, Christ United Methodist Ministry Center received Amnesty International’s Human Rights Defender Award. It partners with Catholic Charities. It also works with the International Rescue Mission and the United Nations. These partnerships help fulfill its broad mission.
But how does a busy ministry center manage its costs? Solar energy became the answer. CollectiveSun’s offices are conveniently located in the ministry’s basement. This made the connection easy. Pastor Owens saw the value immediately. Unlike many churches, Christ United Methodist Ministry Center operates every day. Lights and air conditioning run constantly. This results in a large electric bill. Solar offered a way to cut costs and reduce their carbon footprint.
Sattler Solar installed the 33.1kW system. It sits atop the main ministry building. Pastor Owens anticipates significant savings. He believes this will greatly reduce their electricity payments. The solar project wasn’t a hard sell. The board quickly approved the proposal. Replacing the old roof and navigating city processes took time. CollectiveSun helped secure financing and manage the process. The BQuest Foundation made this loan possible.
The solar system helps Christ United Methodist Ministry Center save money. These savings are redirected into programs. The programs support more people. The roof-mounted solar energy system provides clean energy. It significantly reduces their carbon footprint. The solar project will mitigate 942 metric tons of C02. It equals taking 224 gasoline-powered cars off the road for a year. It’s also equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 1,100 acres of forest in a year. Over its lifetime, the system is projected to save $528,725.
Christ United Methodist Ministry Center’s work is widely recognized. People often find it through word of mouth. It saves money and serves the community. The ministry truly shines as a beacon of hope.