A new youth and young adult ministry is on the rise in Jefferson City offering open mic nights on Friday evenings, coffee and a safe place to meet new friends.
The Branch is managed by Angela Reimund, a guitar player and member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church; she said this coffee house-style ministry has been a dream of hers for quite some time. On Friday, the outreach ministry hosted its official open house at 1529 Southwest Blvd., a red brick house next to the church.
"My coffee house was going to be a place that displayed all my favorite things: my love of music, coffee and hanging out with friends," Reimund said. "That's what I hope to create here."
A partnership with Our Saviors Lutheran has helped her fulfill her dream through the donation of furniture and the brick house adjacent to the church's property.
For the past three months, Reimund said she has been working to paint and make other renovations for opening day.
"When I was younger and in college, I would be looking for a place in Jefferson City to study after my evening classes, and I found my only option was a noisy restaurant," she said. "Plus, many of the open mic venues are only available at bars and not suitable for underage youth. Coming from a church background, not everyone wants to hang out in a bar."
Currently, the building is equipped with a game and television room, study room, library and a stage for musicians.
Reimund also gives credit to Janice Martin, banjo player of Bluegrass Martins, for lighting a fire in her to move forward with her plan.
"Janice really influenced me to get this going and bring this to fruition," she said.
For now, Reimund said the Branch will only be open 6 p.m. to midnight Friday nights, welcoming teens 14 and older and offering Friday night fellowships and open mic sessions for young artists.
During the open house Friday, Pastor Scott Musselman said a prayer of dedication for Reimund and her new endeavors. He asked others to chime in and offer a word of encouragement and their hopes for the new ministry.
Kate Kirchhoff, longtime member of Our Savior's Lutheran, told Reimund to not to get discouraged.
"It's not an easy endeavor that you have undertaken," Kirchhoff said. "It may take a while before young people start to come out, but don't get discouraged."
Reimund said her goal is to reach out to student from local colleges, including Lincoln University, Columbia College and William Woods University, to provide a safe place to come study, listen to music or just hang out.
"This is an outreach to the community, not just for the church," she said.
For more information visit the Branch on Facebook or stop by the red brick house at 1529 Southwest Blvd.