Rooted in Faith, Open to All
Fresh Start Café is grounded in Christian faith—a conviction that every person bears the image of God and is worthy of dignity, opportunity, and love.
Our Foundation
We believe that Jesus Christ offers hope, healing, and a fresh start to everyone. Our work flows from His example of radical welcome—dining with outcasts, touching the untouchable, and proclaiming release to the captives. Fresh Start Café exists because we believe the Gospel compels us to action: not just words, but tangible love expressed through dignified work and genuine community.
Values That Guide Us
Grace Over Judgment
We meet people where they are, not where we think they should be. Past mistakes don't define future potential. Everyone deserves the chance to write a new chapter.
Dignity in Work
We believe work is inherently good—a way humans reflect God's creative nature. Meaningful employment restores identity and purpose.
Community Over Isolation
Transformation rarely happens alone. We cultivate an environment where genuine relationships can form and people find belonging.
Love in Action
Faith without works is dead. Our café is the practical expression of our beliefs—love made tangible in jobs, training, and support.
Voluntary, Never Coercive
While Fresh Start is faith-based, we never make participation in religious activities a condition of employment or program engagement.
What this means practically:
- Job training and employment are open to anyone meeting program criteria, regardless of religious belief
- Spiritual conversations and discipleship opportunities are available but never required
- We welcome people of all faiths and none
- No one will ever be evaluated, advanced, or terminated based on religious participation
We share our faith through relationship, not coercion. Our hope is that the love of Christ is evident in how we treat every person who walks through our doors.
Faith in the Public Square
Fresh Start Café demonstrates that faith-based organizations can operate with excellence, transparency, and professionalism while maintaining their distinctive values. We welcome partnership with foundations, government agencies, and secular funders who share our commitment to workforce development—trusting that our outcomes will speak for themselves.
Partner With Us