Church Planting Prospectus. A new Gospel-movement in Downtown Fresno, California. Revised July, 2018.

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1 Church Planting Prospectus A new Gospel-movement in Downtown Fresno, California. Revised July, 2018.

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Why Plant? About Us Our Philosophy Our Leadership Plans & Goals How You Can Help Our Beliefs

3 Why New Plant? City s Focus Area Though there are a number of churches that exist within the Downtown Fresno area, we believe that a new church plant is necessary for the following reasons: The Downtown Fresno area needs Gospel-centered churches and expositional preaching and teaching that is in accordance with sound doctrine and yet culturally engaging. On average, the Fresno climate of churches tends to recycle disciples, rather than make new disciples. A new church provides an opportunity to make disciples of unbelievers. New churches are more consistent at seeing unbelievers come to Christ. 1 As the Downtown climate changes, and revitalization efforts continue, the Downtown Fresno area is beginning to diversify more than ever. With new technology initiatives, art and cultural events, and a flock of something s relocating downtown, the area is ripened for a new Gospel-centered church to thrive through embracing and engaging its diversity for the sake of Gospel-reconciliation to God and to one another. We intentionally seek to be a multi-ethnic, multi-generational, multi-socioeconomic, transcultural church. A new church plant aligns with the pattern followed within the New Testament. Paul strategically aimed to plant churches within an area of influence, so as to see Gospel influence flow outwardly, thus multiplying the process of planting churches and making disciples. Downtown is that sphere of influence, and is the heartbeat of the city of Fresno. There are not enough churches actively reaching unbelievers and making disciples within the Downtown area in order to meet the holistic (physical, mental, social, spiritual) needs of a growing population. To plant a new church, and this is the primary reason for planting a church, is to be faithful to the Great Commission of Christ, by making disciples of all people. (Matt. 28:16-20) 1 Ed Stetzer, Planting New Churches in a Postmodern Age (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 2003), 6.

4 New City s Focus Area Our focus area includes the Downtown and Southwest communities, with the hopes of having Refuge Homes throughout.

5 New About City s New Focus City Church Area The first question that we are typically asked, as a new church plant, is: why the name New City? As we look around at what s happening in Downtown and Southwest Fresno, we see new roads, and new buildings, and new businesses, and new residencies. There is this sense of newness and refreshing happening at the heart of our great city. But at the core of this yearning for a new city of Fresno, there is ultimately an underlying yearning that is shared across all creation. A groaning for the return of Jesus Christ, and to experience the fullness of the Kingdom of God. In Revelation 21, Jesus Christ reveals to John the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. This is the New City promised to those who put their faith and their hope in Jesus Christ. God s New City will be full of believers from every tribe, tongue, and nation. It will be a place where God will finally and fully be our God, and we will be His people, and He will dwell with us. A place where sin and suffering will be no more. This is our ultimate and future hope. To live in this New City with God, and with one another, for eternity. But for now, we live within a city that is still sinful and that is still suffering. The church is called to be a city on a hill, to be a beacon of light amidst the darkness of our city. To reach the drug dealer and the district attorney alike. So then, our hope with New City is not only the future, but also in the here and now. Indeed, Jesus teaches us to pray Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven, and empowers us by the Spirit in order to participate in the mission of God through our service and submission to Him. The hope for New City Church is that we will be a people that fuels a Gospel-movement in the heart of Downtown Fresno that helps our city flourish for the glory of God, and for the joy and the benefit of all people, believer and unbeliever alike (Jer. 29:1-7). For this is the very heart of God, and the mission to which we ve been given (Matt. 28:18-20).

6 Our Philosophy Philosophy of the Church (Cont d.) THE VISION Seeing Fresno flourish for the glory of God and the good of all people through a holistic Gospel movement. OUR MISSION We will engage the world around us, apply the teachings of Jesus, embrace the people God sends us, and multiply our efforts and influence.

7 Philosophy of the Church (Cont d.) OUR CORE CONVICTIONS Our church s vision and mission is built upon the foundation of the following core convictions: Biblically-driven, Gospelcentered, Ethnically-reconciled, Community-focused, Missionally-minded, Culturally-engaged, Indigenously-led. Biblically-Driven (God s Word) The Bible is God s inerrant, inspired, and authoritative Word, given to us so that we d have a sufficient guide for all things pertaining to life (2 Peter 1:3-4). Through it, God speaks truth, saturated by grace, in order to encourage us, to teach us, to reprove us, to correct us, and to equip us for the life that He has called us to live (2 Tim. 3:16). Gospel-Centered (God s Gospel) The Gospel is the good news about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, for all people who believe (Rom. 1:16-17). Believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ is our pathway into an eternal relationship with God and one another and is a necessary requisite for membership into the body of Christ. It is our contention that many churches only grasp a certain aspect or implication of the Gospel, and therefore centers their ministry on only a partial-gospel. This results in unhealthy churches, distorted preaching and teaching, and ultimately, spiritually finicky followers of Christ. The whole Gospel is seen through Scripture, and the life of the church, in the following three aspects: God s Kingdom God s Cross God s Grace God s Kingdom is life with God under the rule of God. (Daniel 4:3, Mark 1:15, Galatians 4:4-5, Romans 14:17)

8 Philosophy of the Church (Cont d.) God s Cross represents the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 53:4, 1 Cor. 15:3-4, 1 Peter 3:18) God s Grace is his outrageous acceptance of us not because we have earned or deserved it but because He gives it freely at Christ s expense. (Acts 20:24, Hebrews 10:10, Ephesians 2:8-9) Ethnically-Reconciled (God s Reconciliation) Through the person and work of Jesus Christ, not only have we been reconciled to God, but now we ve been reconciled to one another. God s redeeming, restoring, and reconciling work is both vertical and horizontal. As God s people, we are called to walk in light of the reality of reconciliation (Eph. 2:11-22, Acts 20:28). Community-Focused (God s People) God s Word gives us three reasons why Christian community is important because we are: 1. Created for each other (Gen 1). 2. Called to each other (1 Cor. 1:9). 3. Conditioned through each other (1 Thess. 5:11, Heb. 10:24, Eph. 4:25). As a practical outworking of all of these things, our church gathers together in community (groups and Sunday gathering) to spur one another on, while also scattering throughout the community during the week, neighboring, glorifying God and growing the body of Christ through presence, prayer, and public activity.

9 Philosophy of the Church (Cont d.) Missionally-Minded (God s Mission) We believe that the Gospel affects everything (Habakkuk 2:14). When we receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we also receive the mission of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the Gospel transforms our world that we inhabit in the following five dimensions: 1. Location: Where we live in our homes, neighborhoods, and local campuses. 2. Vocation: Where we work, our career, and our finances. 3. Restoration: Where there s brokenness, need, and injustice. 4. Recreation: Where we rest and enjoy life through play, leisure, and creativity. 5. Multiplication: Where we grow, expand, and how we steward. Culturally-engaged (God s Creative Expression) Culture, in its purest form, is the expression of God s diverse beauty on display. But, like all things, there are certain aspects of culture that we must either receive, reject or seek to redeem as result of the effects of sin. We believe that being culturally engaged is necessary in order to effectively advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When it comes to cultural models, we prefer the term trans-cultural over multi-cultural, with trans-culturalism being defined as: Every human being is endued with the imago Dei, the image of God, captured in unique cultural and ethnic expressions which embody the full breadth of God s creative genius, not to be subverted by ethnic/cultural identity and preferences of another, but celebrated in creating a fuller expression of our humanity, a woven tapestry of color, culture, and class as God forms a people for Himself from all people. 2 2 Leonce Crump, Renovate: Changing Who You Are by Loving Where You Are (Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah), 113.

10 Philosophy of the Church (Cont d.) Indigenously-Led (God s Leaders) Our hope is to raise up leaders from within the community of believers, rather than hire outside of our own communities (Luke 10:2, 2 Tim. 2:2). Raising up indigenous leaders requires an intentional approach to leadership development, which includes the following: 1. Identify: Intentionally seek out, observe, and identify potential leaders from within the community. 2. Invest: Spend a significant amount of time investing in the development of potential leaders within the community. 3. Ignite: Empower and release competent and equipped leaders to serve the local church, as well as go back in to the community to disciple others, and shepherd and plant more churches.

11 Our Leadership TROY MCCOMAS, CHURCH PLANTER & LEAD PASTOR Troy McComas is a 36-year old follower of Christ, a husband, and a father of eight. Having not grown up in the church, Troy enters in to pastoral ministry with a passion for God s glory in the city, and a great deal of life experiences that help him to reach everyone from the drug addict hanging out by the Poverello House, to the web developer addicted to porn. Troy s pursuit in life is to make new disciples in the urban core, with the conviction that planting new churches is the most biblically faithful means to do so. Troy studied Biblical & Theological Studies at Liberty University during his undergrad, completed a Church Planting Residency at The Well Community Church, and is currently pursuing an Advanced Master of Divinity from Southern Seminary. ERIK CASTILLO, EXECUTIVE PASTOR Erik has served in various roles throughout churches over the years, and is driven by his love for people and seeing them find their worth in Christ. He moved to Fresno from San Diego in April 2014, which stirred a passion in him for urban ministry in a city that is just beginning to revitalize. He feels blessed to use his experiences in ministry to support New City Church begin the process of engaging the community of Downtown Fresno. Erik received a B.A. in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in Exposition from San Diego Christian College, and has taken courses at Southern Seminary, where he s currently pursuing a Master of Divinity.

12 Plans & Goals OPERATIONS PLAN(S): We plan to re-launch in a new facility, as well as kick-off a robust fundraising campaign for our various initiatives. GOAL(S): 1. Re-launch in the Tulare St. property no later than Christmas of Raise $75k-$95k for the fiscal year (Aug ). SHEPHERDING & EQUIPPING PLAN(S): Continue to build as a family, equip launch team for re-launch, implement discipleship model, and establish groups. GOAL(S): launch team members committed to at least six month(s) of service, equipped and enlisted in a particular role. 2. Introduce Following Jesus on the Block discipleship-model by re-launch. 3. (2) groups (neighborhood group and at least one growth group) established prior to re-launch. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN(S): Presence (Refuge Homes, Neighboring), Prayer (Prayer Walks, Intercessory Gatherings), Public Activity (Ask-Us- Anything, Saturday Sports, Neighborhood Cleanups, Think & Drink, etc.) GOAL(S): 1. Establish healthy partnership with (2) local churches within our focus area. 2. Establish healthy partnership with (2) community entities within our focus area. 3. To see at least 25 people converted and committed to being discipled by New City Church.

13 Plans & Goals REFUGE HOMES Our mission becomes localized within the New City Refuge home community. Refuge Homes are, in their simplest form, an opportunity for our neighbors to come and find rest (Matt. 11:28). This mission from Jesus to love our neighbors, and to make disciples, however, is supplemented (not supplanted!) through various services and activities. Here s a list of how a New City Refuge home could represent within a neighborhood: BUILD RELATIONSHIPS W/ NEIGHBORS PARTNER W/ LOCAL SCHOOLS ADOPT-A-BLOCK SATURDAY SPORTS (through Every Neighborhood Partnership) AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING & LITERACY NEIGHBORHOOD BBQ(s) FIRST RESPONSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT / SOCIAL ENTERPRISES REDEMPTIVE JUSTICE, ETC. MERCY MINISTRIES, ETC. HOLISTIC DISCIPLEHIP INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

14 How You Can Help PRAYWITH US Here are some of the ways in which you can pray with us: Faithfulness and fruitfulness in our evangelism and discipleship efforts Worship arts vocalists, musicians, etc. Financial support Healthy relationships and partnerships with our neighbors, local businesses, and other churches Will you commit to pray with us, that God would bless our efforts, and empower our ways so that the life-transforming power of the Gospel will prevail in Downtown Fresno? PARTNERWITH US Feeling called to serve alongside a local church plant? We d love to connect and chat more about potential opportunities for partnering in local urban-missional equipping and mobilization, cross-pollination, as well as anchor partner support. PROVIDEFOR US As a church plant that s committed to our city, our needs vary from property needs for our refuge homes, to salaries for our key leadership. Pray about it, and see if the Lord is leading you to give towards the following specific financial needs: o $1,000 /month funds the rent/mortgage of a Refuge Home. o Sizeable contributions to go towards down payment for purchasing of Refuge Home. o Staffing salaries for Lead Pastor ($2,000 /month), Executive Pastor ($1,000 /month), and Worship Arts ($1,000 /month). For more information, info@newcityfresno.com

15 Doctrine & Beliefs New City Church is a non-denominational church that affirms the historic Apostle s Creed, along with other doctrinal distinctives. You may review our Doctrinal Statement & Distinctives by visiting:

16 MORE QUESTIONS? Contact us at