Description

The FireEscape Coffeehouse Youth Ministry was started in 1998 to provide a safe and fun environment for high school and college age youth in Chanute and Southeast Kansas. We incorporated and became a 501(c)3, non-profit in 2000. We have been staffed by volunteers and have just hired a Director of Programming and Outreach, Gaylen Lawrence. The FireEscape is supported by donations and fundraising. The FireEscape Coffeehouse is located at 126 W Main Street and we have a full coffee bar and concert venue as well as a Christian radio station 93.1 KFEX. We have hosted over 150 musical and youth events. We teamed up with Chanute Community Theatre for the play "It's A Wonderful Life" which alone ran 4 nights and brought in 450 ticket buyers. The Coffeehouse and CCT will be collaborating again for a special radio broadcast this Christmas season. Our single events host up to 300 youth and adults. Due to the economic downturn, our donations have decreased significantly. Our utilities average $600-$1200 a month for our two buildings. Mr. Lawrence has many new ideas to utilize the Coffeehouse which will mean that we will be open more days, so our utility costs will rise. Plans are in discussion to remodel part of the Coffeehouse to install a kitchen which was donated by NMRMC - a future vision for a food ministry. The FireEscape has become the blueprint for other Coffeehouses. Concerned community leaders and pastors from Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, New Jersey, Arizona, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas have contacted and visited us for ideas and information on how to run a successful Coffeehouse for kids. The FireEscape is one of the longest running outreach Christian Coffeehouses in the US. FireEscape Radio, kfex