During the last three years, Stratton Edwards, a senior and peer minister with the campus ministry program at Washington University in St. Louis, has seen student participation grow from about a dozen to more than 80. The miraculous growth helped make credible the constant encouragement to dream big that the Rev. Michael Kinman gave to the students when the talk turned to the future of campus ministry.

Even Fr. Kinman admits to surprise, however, when he realizes that this week the campus ministry program will move into its own residence, complete with two live-in house ministers, less than a block away from the campus.

"We've had to work our tails off, of course," said Fr. Kinman, "but every step of the way things have just felt right. This is confirmation of something that we talk a lot about here: 'Don't let money be the thing deciding whether or not something gets done'."

Around Thanksgiving last year, Fr. Kinman, 33, noticed a For Sale sign on the front lawn of a house near the campus. For several years the group had talked about additional things it could accomplish with its own permanent house, but even in a diocese which recently designated $1 million toward campus ministry development, the $350,000 cost to purchase and renovate the house seemed insurmountable.

Undaunted, the group approached its task one small step at a time. First Fr. Kinman sought approval from the Rt. Rev. Hays Rockwell, Bishop of Missouri. An ardent supporter of campus ministry, Bishop Rockwell encouraged Fr. Kinman and helped secure a diocesan matching grant and loan. As the official Oct. 5 dedication date nears, the group has raised or secured pledges for all but about $30,000.

"We assembled a good team," said Fr. Kinman.

The students are a large part of that team. They played a significant role in getting the city council to rezone the house. That effort included organizing local Episcopalians into a letter-writing campaign in support of the rezoning proposal. The students are also completing a significant amount of the interior renovations which include making the structure handicap accessible.

"We are still talking about what we will do with the house," said Mr. Edwards. "My only regret is that I'll only be able to enjoy this for a year."

The primary purpose for the house is not as an alternative to dormitory housing, but rather to be a ministry center for hospitality to students, according to Laurie Faiveley, a sophomore and one of two house ministers. In exchange for a place to stay, Ms. Faiveley and Lesley McCullough will make sure that the place is kept clean and that students feel welcome, but they will be the only full-time residents.

"It will be a place to study, hang out and pray," she said. "Hopefully we will be able to make it a better place to focus than the dorm rooms."

All freshmen at Washington University are required to live on campus and the team will reach out extensively to incoming students who are either Episcopalians or are unchurched.

"This will not be an exclusive place like a fraternity house," she said. "We hope to make everyone feel welcome."