Technically speaking, the Christian & Missionary Alliance will be purchasing The Giving Tree building. Envision Manchester sees the purchase as a strategic way to continue the business-as-mission cafe. This would allow not only the team a continued opportunity to serve a unique multicultural demographic, but the building itself would serve as a future base for incoming Alliance workers.

Why is this building catalytic for our ministry?

In addition to the space used as a cafe, the building contains an upstairs kitchenette, three office rooms, and two small classrooms. These spaces would serve our Envision team in order to facilitate our work with teams and short term participants. Additionally, the office space can serve as a dedicated hub for the administration and coordination needed to welcome and support future international workers sent from the US C&MA. (Future teammates included!)

$793,000 by the end of 2025 

and another $232,000 over the next 5 years as we invest in repairs and upgrades to the building.

Imagine opening up an old pub building around 9AM, starting up an espresso machine and preparing the shop for guests to enter. Just as the coffee is starting to smell best, around 10AM, a group of Arab and African friends start to show up for an English lesson put on by the local church. Come noon, a local nurse walks in for a quick sandwich and as the lunch crowd dies down, a few university students arrive to start their study session. A few hours later, those same students put down their headphones and welcome a few other friends as they wind down. The cafe closes around 4PM and as the baristas are finishing up cleaning a group of local believers come in to begin an evening of prayer and worship.

While not every day is this full at The Giving Tree, this is an example of what all happens.

Just down the road from where we're living, The Giving Tree is a lot more than just a corner cafe; it is a community hub and a welcoming gathering spot for both the local church and our neighbors. A warm refuge in the heart of rainy Manchester. The café is situated in a strategic location, at a key corner surrounded by student accommodations, Middle Eastern shops and restaurants, and a vibrant, multicultural neighbourhood. The vision of the cafe is to build a Christ-centred community that nurtures spiritual growth, strengthens healthy relationships, and serves the surrounding multicultural community with love and compassion. That’s why so much of what we do focuses on creating welcoming spaces for people to connect, grow, explore faith and be transformed through the love and truth of Jesus Christ.