W H AT I F A L L O F NEW YORK WA S R E N E W E D BY T H E G O S P E L ?
MISSION INVESTOR GUIDE
The gospel movement in New York is at a historic inflection point . THE OPPORTUNITY Over the next 10 years, we have the opportunity to further a movement of the gospel that could result in blessing the entire city.
THE VISION We desire to see gospel-renewal where philanthropy, justice, mercy, reconciliation, integrity, and hope are multiplied across New York— not just in individual lives but in ways that advance the common good for everyone. And because of New York’s influence as a leading global city, this movement could catalyze renewal far beyond our city.
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“ I am excited to dedicate the rest of my life to helping leaders and churches in all global cities—but especially in the city that my family and I call home. I’ve never been part of a strategy with more potential to bring long-lasting change and gospel-centric renewal.”
TI M K E L L E R
New York is one of the most influential cities in the world. Whether it’s the financial institutions on Wall Street, the fashion houses of SoHo, the museums and cultural institutions of the Upper East Side, the art galleries in Chelsea, or the United Nations, the influence of New York is incalculable. With the tremendous amassing of human talent, resources, and ambition, New York is one of the centers of cultural production in the West.
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New York is one of the most secular cities in the U.S. Secularism, individualism, and competition are deeply rooted in New York. For much of the 20th century, the Church was weaker in New York City than in any other American city. In 1989, less than 1% of center-city residents attended an evangelical church, compared to 25-40% of the population nationwide.
N EW YO R K MUST B E A MI S S I O N S P R I O R IT Y.
Cities have a strategic importance. Biblically, cities play a central role in redemptive history. The establishing of the city of Jerusalem, the call to bless the city of Babylon, and the spread of Christianity through the cities of the Roman Empire—these were all moments when God used the influence of cities to mobilize his people to serve and care for the whole nation. People are flocking to cities. For the first time, urban dwellers make up 50% of the world. And by 2050, 75% of the human race will work, worship, play, raise families, and live in a city. The advantage of this global trend is the ability to reach a wider spectrum of people with the gospel all at once.
People are flocking to New York. A dense city of 8.5 million people, New York City is divided into 5 boroughs—Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. Each borough is packed with vibrant neighborhoods that show off the diverse local and global color. Urban planners and population experts predict the City will grow past 9 million people by 2030, which is more than LA, Chicago, and Houston combined.
S H OU L D I N OT H AVE CO MPA S S I O N O N NINE VE H, T H E GR EAT C I TY . . . JON A H 4 : 11 (N ASB)
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S E E K T H E P E AC E A N D P R O S P E R I T Y O F T H E C I T Y. . .
P RAY T O T HE LORD FOR IT, BECAU S E IF IT PROSPE R S, YOU TOO WILL PR OSPE R . J E R E M I A H 2 9 :7 ( N I V )
NOW IS A
DEFINING
MOMENT
FOR THE GOSPEL MOVEMENT IN NEW YORK.
The New York Project is a bold strategy to further the gospel movement. Led by Tim Keller, The New York Project seeks to accelerate the gospel movement to reach a tipping point in the next 10 years. Through the Holy Spirit working in churches spread across our city, the number of New Yorkers in gospel-centered churches has risen from 1% to 5% over the past 27 years. We have seen an acceleration of that growth in the last five years.
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The goal is to see the number of people in gospel-centered churches increase from 5% to 15% to reach a tipping point of Christians stepping up to serve the city they love.
The vision is an entire city renewed by the gospel. Tripling the number of Christians living out the gospel will have an exponential effect on the patterns of life in New York—where overall civility, compassion, and integrity through the entire city is renewed. It could amount to a tipping point of gospel influence throughout New York—and then in cities globally.
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A gospel-fueled New York will catalyze influence beyond just our city:
+ Growth in philanthropy + God-honoring cultural and artistic expressions + Humane workplaces and industries + Less crime and institutional corruption + Greater expressions of mercy and justice + Restorative race relations + Community-minded neighborhoods + A more just distribution of power and wealth + Peace-filled dialogue amid conflict + Compassion and respect for human dignity
A new collaborative partnership will lead the movement forward. Redeemer Presbyterian Church and Redeemer City to City— both founded by Tim Keller—will work collaboratively to lead The New York Project. Over the past 27 years, Redeemer Presbyterian Church has pioneered a new paradigm of church where orthodox gospel-centrality is paired with teaching the relevancy of Christ to the culture today. Fifteen years ago, Redeemer City to City was started with a commitment to train pastors across denominations in planting churches in the largest global cities. Traditionally, the Church has struggled to plant and sustain churches in urban areas—but Redeemer City to City has become a movement leader in successfully planting churches all over the world.
REDEEMER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH + Gathers 5,500 worshippers each Sunday across three congregations + Continues to be the primary entry point for secular
New Yorkers of various religious backgrounds to process the gospel + Disciples congregants to integrate their faith and
work, embody justice and mercy, and pursue a public faith + Is grounded in a vision to serve and help build a great city for all people
REDEEMER CITY T O CITY + Since 2001, has helped plant 381 churches in 54 global cities
—90 churches in New York alone + 93% of all churches planted globally have successfully launched, grown, and become self-sustaining + For every church that has been planted, two to three other new churches have started as a ripple effect + Working across a multitude of denominations, pastors are trained by seasoned practitioners to contextualize the gospel for an urban and secular audience
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Reaching the goal will require three initiatives. This is a 10-year strategy that seeks to honor and steward what God has been doing in the city. Multiplying the body of Christ will require a network of churches and leaders, as well as physical homes to reach our neighbors.
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New Churches
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New Leaders
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New Homes
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New Churches
New churches have generative power. They spark rapid evangelistic outreach and growth. They engage their congregations and neighborhoods because of their immediate need to establish presence, develop authentic relationships, and build inroads with the existing community. Planting new churches is the best way to reach a city with the gospel. New churches are proven to: + Attract un-churched people on average three to six times more often than older churches + Attract greater numbers of younger generations and new people groups + Increase the generosity base for ministries in a city
T HE PLAN
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Together, Redeemer Presbyterian Church and Redeemer City to City will strategically plant 250+ new churches of many denominations, including nine new Redeemer daughter churches.
Erick & Missy Sorenson FUTURE CHURCH PL AN TE RS IN STUY VE S AN T T OW N/AL PHABET CITY
truly believe the most effective strategy to reach the world with the gospel and to “ We spread the growth of the Kingdom of God is through starting new churches in urban areas. But the work of church planting is no easy task. Coming from nine years of pastoral ministry in established churches, we’re aware that the experience of planting a church is quite different. When you start a church ‘from scratch,’ virtually nothing exists. That said, people who will walk through the doors will be a great mix of non-Christians still processing their faith, new Christians in need of discipleship, and mature believers excited to be part of something new in their neighborhood. The work will be unique, hard, and even lonely at times—but we know we are on a mission to see not just our church get started, but in years to come, many more get planted as we partner with Redeemer.
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T HE B RO NX As a movement leader in New York,
+ Christ Fellowship NYC
Redeemer City to City has partnered with or
+ Infinity Bible Church
helped start 90 churches in the New York area
across multiple denominations.
+ New Season Christian Center - Bronx + Restoration Community Church + Sanctuary Fellowship + The Chapel Christian Church + The Elements Church
MA N H AT TA N
QU E E NS
+ Apostles Church NYC
+ Ascension Church
+ Avenue of Hope
+ Astoria Community Church
+ Christ Church NYC
+ CityView Astoria
+ Christ Crucified Fellowship
+ Covenant Church
+ City Grace Church
+ Covenant of Faith
+ Communitas
+ Covenant of Grace Presbyterian Church
+ Dwell NYC
+ Grace Fellowship Sunnyside
+ Emmanuel Presbyterian Church
+ Hope Church Astoria
+ Forefront Church
+ King’s Cross Flushing
+ Gallery Church
+ Sunrise Baptist Church
+ Grace NYC
+ Living Faith Community Church
+ Hope Midtown
+ Trinity Grace Church Queens
+ Lower Manhattan Community Church
+ New Life Christian Center
+ Metro Hope + Metropolitan Faith Church
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+ Movement NYC
B RO O K LY N
+ New Horizon Ministry
+ New York Lighthouse Baptist Church
+ Redeemer Presbyterian Church
+ Recovery House of Worship
+ Renaissance NYC
+ Resurrection Clinton Hill
+ The River
+ Resurrection Park Slope
+ Trinity Grace East Village
+ Resurrection Williamsburg
+ Trinity Grace Tribeca
+ Trinity Grace Crown Heights
+ Trinity Grace Washington Heights
+ Trinity Grace Park Slope
+ Uptown Community Church
+ Trinity Grace Williamsburg
T HE B RO N X
MANHATTAN
QUE E N S
B ROOK L N
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overwhelming majority of Asian-Americans who grew up in the ethnic “ The immigrant church have left the church. Since Asian-Americans are the fastest growing demographic in NYC, there is great potential to cultivate new discipleship pathways for Asian-Americans to follow Jesus. My training through Redeemer City to City is providing on-the-ground experience to that end. I’m learning from practitioners who understand the specific spiritual and cultural climate of our city so that we can be more effective in reaching the de-churched. I am grateful to be receiving training that I never received during my previous 15 years of church employment and seminary so that I, and others, can be effective in reaching Asian-Americans who have left the church. Even more, I am pulled into a movement sweeping through New York alongside like-minded Kingdom laborers from diverse networks and denominations who yearn to join God in the renewal of New York City.
Ezra Sohn F U T U R E C H U RCH PLA NT E R I N B AY S I D E
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New Leaders
Hundreds of new churches will only be as effective as the pastors, staff, and lay leaders who lead them. The exceptional cost of living and the density, diversity, energy, and competitive character of life in New York make it a uniquely challenging context for leaders. New York leaders—from church planters to congregants—need contextualized training from seasoned urban practitioners. With more than 25 years of ministry in New York, we help leaders: + Preach to skeptical audiences to challenge and edify both believers and non-believers + Develop an entrepreneurial, adaptive, and creative mindset in leadership and discipleship + Be adept at casting a ministry vision that is gospel-centric, not denomination-centric Tim Keller and experts at Redeemer Presbyterian Church and Redeemer City to City will work together to train, mentor, disciple, and send out urban leaders. As part of The New York Project, Tim Keller will pivot from his role as Senior Pastor at Redeemer to maximze his ability to teach and mentor.
THE PLAN
Launch and expand a pipeline for both pastors and lay leaders that develops hundreds of new people for ministry—trained specifically in New York and for New York. 25
Jordan Tanksley M A ST ER S CA N D I DAT E IN BIBLICA L ST U D I E S
after living in New York for 10 years, I’m still enthralled by the city’s “ Even contagious energy. There is a constant feeling that I’m part of shaping culture— and yet, it can also be a lonely city. I hope to help New Yorkers thrive by building communities rooted in deep, long-lasting relationships and grounded in the gospel. Through the Redeemer City to City Seminary program, the next generation of leaders is being equipped to serve the Kingdom by having ‘A Mind for Truth and a Heart for God.’ Coupled with training on how to meet the vast and complex needs of this city, I’m being equipped to be an agent for renewal by helping people flourish in communities.
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hope is to plant and lead a church that equips congregants to be the “ Our best neighbors on their blocks. Jesus’ command to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ is constantly being asked of us in New York—even just by the nature of how close we physically live to our neighbors. And because people from every corner of the globe live together here, there is a picture here of the future Kingdom when all tongues and tribes will worship the King. The training at Redeemer City to City is equipping us to plant churches that are strategic, not only in their placement and audience, but also in their engagement of the neighbors and culture around them.
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F U T U RE CH U RCH PL AN TE RS I N WO O DS I D E
Larry & Lindsey Mayberry
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New Homes
When a congregation can put down physical roots and establish ministry in a neighborhood, relationships with the community can open up for the long-term. Many urban neighborhoods are so constrained by the availability of community space that a new church building with classrooms and event spaces is a welcome addition to the community. We want to create a place for all to share. A permanent and physical home for a New York church will: + Signal a long-term commitment to the neighborhood + Safeguard against sudden loss of space or public hostility + Provide a public utility that is affordable and available to families outside the church + Aid multiplying through church planting instead of moving from one rented space to another
T HE PLAN
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Purchase a physical home for Redeemer East Side to serve the Upper East Side as a permanent hub of community. Create a fund for future homes for both Redeemer and non-Redeemer churches.
Owning a building allows a church to open its doors as a public utility and shared space. These are scenes of Redeemer West Side’s building serving as a community gathering space.
The New York Project is a strategy that will take 10 years. To catalyze such a large-scale cultural shift in New York, it will take much more than a single church. It will take a network of hundreds of gospel-centered churches from many denominations; it will take hundreds of trained pastors and lay leaders equipped for the challenge of ministry in New York; and it will take a long-term commitment to the neighborhoods of New York through permanent homes.
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We believe we are at a defining moment in gospel history.
Since 2001, Redeemer City to City has helped start 381 churches in 54 cities.
LONDON
We focus on global cities, and there’s no city more global than New York City. MEXICO CITY
What we are able to accomplish in New York
RIO DE JANEIRO SÃO PAULO
I S A CATA LYST for Redeemer City to City’s ongoing work in our global cities.
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BUENOS AIRES SANTIAGO
HELSINKI AMSTERDAM
N BEIJING
ROME
TOKYO
ATHENS SHANGHAI DUBAI
DELHI
HONG KONG
MUMBAI
SINGAPORE
JOHANNESBURG CAPE TOWN SYDNEY MELBOURNE
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An invitation from Tim Keller
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We have already seen God work in unpredictable and extraordinary ways in New York City over the last 25 years—and because of the movement he has begun, The New York Project is a strategy that we can accomplish. When my wife, Kathy, and I first arrived, we were told by many that ‘it would be a miracle’ for an orthodox church like Redeemer to thrive in the center of Manhattan. They were not just being pessimists;
EO/Arianne Ramaker
history and common sense were against us. But of course, God performed the miracle—and blessed not only Redeemer but many churches beyond us. It is precisely because of how we have seen God move in this city that we see such possibility now. The New York Project is the most strategic plan I’ve ever seen for reaching a single city. It is also the most ambitious in terms of the generosity it will require from the body of Christ—both from those in New York and from partners like you around the country. This vision will require extraordinary prayer and financial generosity. And by trusting the power of the gospel, we move forward with boldness. Will you join us in this work?”
JOIN US . For more information on The New York Project, contact MAI HARIU-POWELL mai.hariu@redeemer.com | 917-757-1655 DOUG THORSON doug@redeemercitytocity.com | 917-206-1463
NEWYORKPROJECT.COM
1989
1%
100 CHURCHES 1% ATTENDING GOSPEL-CENTERED CHURCHES Least religious city in U.S.
2016
2026
15% 5%
251 CHURCHES 5% ATTENDING GOSPEL-CENTERED CHURCHES
500 CHURCHES 15% ATTENDING GOSPEL-CENTERED CHURCHES
Growth after a century of decline
A tipping point for the city, society, and world
“Pastors from around the world are beginning to come in a steady stream to New York City to glean what they can… Their goal is to learn how to create similarly effective churches in cosmopolitan cities like New York, which exert outsize influence on the prevailing culture but have traditionally been neglected...” “ P R E AC H I N G T H E WO R D A N D Q U OT I N G T H E VO I C E ”
The New York Times, February 6, 2006
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