Center for Student Missions

Infobox Organization
name = The Center for Student Missions


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motto = To provide an effective urban ministry experience that transforms lives, influences churches and communities, and honors Christ.
formation = 1988
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type = Christian missions
headquarters = Dana Point, California
location = Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto and Washington, DC
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leader_title = President
leader_name = Noel Becchetti
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website = [http://www.csm.org http://www.csm.org]

The Center for Student Missions (CSM) is a short-term, non-denominational, urban mission organization. They are committed to "provide an effective urban ministry experience that transforms lives, influences churches and communities, and honors Christ." [cite news
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Statistics

In its almost 20 years of existence, CSM has brought over 5,600 groups (95,000 individuals) into urban centers to serve. CSM currently works year-round in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto and Washington, DC. [cite news
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CSM has over 20 full-time year-round employees in their nine cities and Home Office. They also employ additional seasonal staff to assist in hosting service group.

History

CSM began in 1988 as an innovative, new way of "doing missions". Instead of traveling to a different country and creating their own ministry, groups are brought into urban centers throughout North America and partnered with indigenous ministries in the city. Seeing a need for volunteers on the ministry end and desire for cross-cultural ministry within churches, CSM desired to join the two and create experiences that transforms both the serving group and the receiving ministry. [cite news
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Ridge Burns began the first site in Los Angeles in 1988. CSM expanded to Chicago in 1992 and Washington, DC year-round in 1993.

Noel Becchetti became President in February 1996

CSM expanded to Houston and Toronto in 1996, to Nashville and San Francisco in 1999, to Philadelphia in 2002 and the latest, New York City, in 2006.

CSM is a member of the [http://www.ecfa.org Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability] (ECFA) and an alliance ministry of [http://gospelcom.net Gospelcom] .

References

External links

* [http://www.csm.org CSM Website]
* [http://www.csm.org/opportunities.php CSM Cities]
* [http://csmurbanupdate.blogspot.com CSM Blog]
* [http://www.click2houston.com/family/8191194/detail.html Students Spend Spring Break Helping Others] (March 22 2006, Click2Houston.com)
* [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05289/588883.stm Mission Organizer Advises Sensitivity to Needs of Poor] (October 16 2005, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)