UEC: Building Belonging

Campus Ministry Builds Belonging

Why does the UEC exist? To be a ministry that helps replace isolation with belonging for students in the Twin Cities Area. We do this by sharing stories and sharing meals at Riverside Lounge & 417 House. We share the stories of our lives and the stories from the Bible. We share meals around dinner tables and altar tables.

What's Riverside Lounge?
Great question! We are part of a collaboration that supports a 3,000 square-foot community space in the heart of the student neighborhoods surrounding the U of MN. We have a kitchen, study/lounge area and...oh yeah!...a jiu jitsu studio! After 20 years of renting space all around campus our community loves finally having a place to call home! 

And...our home is helping us get to know and love our neighbors better. Riverside Lounge is where our Sunday Night Dinner Church happens. It also hosts a weekly Pasta Night that got covered by the Minnesota Daily. And a twice monthly Game Night. And Jiu Jitsu 6 days a week. 

In 2025 over 100 students showed up to one of our gatherings. And every single one who showed up was welcomed, supported and loved exactly how they are.

What's 417 House?
Now in its seventh year, 417 House is an Intentional Christian Community located four blocks away from Riverside Lounge. Seven students pay the cheapest rent in Minneapolis & live together--committing to a year of prayer, community and service. 417 House students explore their face, support one another & experience the joys of community.

Our Goal!

We're trying to raise $3,000 to finish up 2025 on a strong foot. 

Here are some examples of what different gift amounts help us do: 

$25 - Welcome to Campus Lunch! - Help us welcome a new student to campus by sponsoring the cost of a lunch.

$50 - Support Game Night! - Help us pay for a month's worth of snacks at our Game Night.

$100 - Feed a Crowd! - Sponsor the cost of feeding the students who show up for a Sunday Night Dinner Church.

$200 - Help around the house. - We're looking to upgrade our storage in the basement at the 417 House. Help us buy some shelves? 

$500 - Student Internship: Supporting one student for one semester with an internship that helps them get vocational clarity, and supports the life of our community.  

$1000 - Support Student Housing: Subsidizing living costs for one semester for one student at the 417 House. 

$2500 - Internship Team: Help us hire a team of five students for one semester to really accelerate a project. This fall we hired a team of interns from the School of Design. Spring 2026 we want to add a team of interns to focus on Pasta Night.