The Joe Rush Center for Urban Mission provides opportunities for groups to experience inner-city ministry through hands-on discipleship. We offer opportunities ranging from house painting for low-income homeowners (primarily those who are elderly and disabled), to working in WE Gardens, to working with several local church-based relief organizations, to volunteering with our Urban Kids program.

The work is designed to give your group opportunities to reflect, discuss, and pray about these important matters of faith: mercy, poverty, and justice. We promise your group will have time for spiritual formation and community building. Our prayer is that you leave tired in body, but refreshed in spirit and empowered to work for change.

What we do

The Joe Rush Center offers a full-service mission camp for junior high, high school, college-aged and older persons. The goal of the Rush Camp is to strengthen relationships between volunteer groups and homeowners in the community over a can of paint and a paint brush. During your time with us, your group will consider important issues from a Christian perspective such as poverty, racism, and affordable housing.

Many groups spend a full week (Sunday night through Friday morning) in residence at Urban Ministry's dorm facility, located at Walnut Grove United Methodist Church in Midfield. We can sleep 80 persons for $250/week, including food! Groups work during the day and reflect on their service in the evening. Some visit the nationally-acclaimed Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham, attend a Birmingham Barons baseball game (AA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox), and enjoy other Birmingham sights. We welcome groups from March through October to work in this program. We are also available to host retreats and other events throughout the year.

Learn More

If you are a part of a group, or know a group that would be interested in volunteering with us, contact Danny Jones at 205.781.0517 ext. 101 or via email.

Support the Rush Center: Buy a t-shirt!

Cost $10 (shipping $ 4.95 each)
Sizes: Adult small to XXL (available in five colors)

Contact Danny Jones at 205.781.0517 ext. 101 or send him an email to order.