In 1940 Marie Sandvik, a determined Norwegian immigrant, rented a bankrupted bar on Washington Avenue, cleaned it up, put up a sign saying "Minneapolis Revival Mission", and standing by the bar on opening night announced, "I have come to offer you a new life".

The mission was moved to historic Nicollet Island and continued to minister to the then "skid row" population. Doris Nye from Trinity Lutheran Church of Minnehaha Falls joined her in 1944 and served as the director of the mission until her death in April 2005.

As the years passed the ministry continued to grow so a permanent home was needed. The mission moved to their present location at 1112 East Franklin Avenue where the ministry changed to include more families and children. Here Sandvik and Nye created programs to help the needy of the neighborhood telling the children and adults that they are valuable because God values them.

Marie Sandvik died in 1992 and her work was carried on by Doris Nye until her death April 2005, and the work now continues under the leadership of Director, Kristen Hink, Assistant Director, Laurie Whitmore and a dedicated staff of paid workers and volunteers.

To get directions to the Marie Sandvik Center click here.