R I S E U P DAT E What if we could see all of new york city renewed by the gospel? THE VISION
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Over the past 25 years, the body of Christ has grown from 1% to 5% in center-city New York. Rise is a campaign to accelerate that movement toward a tipping point. Our vision to triple
ISSUE
the number of Christians in center-city — from 5% to 15%—who are living out the gospel
October 2016
and serving their neighborhood. We think this could amount to a tipping point of gospel renewal that brings social good in ways that benefit the whole city.
A RISE STORY
FINANCIAL UPDATE
10X10 UPDATE
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NEW CHURCHES NEW LEADERS NEW BUILDINGS >>Page 5
A RISE STORY “
After more than a decade of enjoying brief trips to NYC,
With the couple across the hall, I am dedicated to
God surprised us (big time) by moving my husband,
reorienting my life and calendar to prioritize them.
our high school son, and me here from Northern VA
Maybe that’s fellowship over chili and football this fall;
last year. We left three adult children and a much-loved
but over time, I hope it’s through establishing a regular
church. Although we moved here for my husband’s job,
routine of companionship. Then there is my neighbor
many days I still wondered why God had brought us
around the corner, the one I already have an established
here at this specific time in our lives. It wasn’t long after
relationship with. For her, I need to take a step further
settling into lower Washington Heights that we started
and be more transparent. In particular, I want to naturally
hearing about the Rise Campaign.
and boldly verbalize how my relationship with God, my gratefulness for and dependence on Him, impacts
Redeemer Night was a changing point for me. I was
everything I do. For reinforcement, I am also looking and
(and still am) deeply impacted and challenged by the
praying for ways to connect her with other Christians.
personal and invoking vision articulated. Specifically, that I am needed here. God was calling me to
I need to be diligent in this mission. Although it is easier
actively engage the city with the gospel through my
to keep relationships surface level, I am committed to
relationships. I pictured my neighbor around the corner
growing deeper. I freshly feel the weight of this calling
and the couple across the hall, both of whom my family
and responsibility. With the help of the Lord, I can play
has gotten to know. I might be the only person who
an active role in seeing the percentage of Christians
will share the words of eternal life with them. I came to
rise from 5% to 15% in center-city New York. This is
realize that this is one of the reasons why God has me
important. This is weighty. This matters. I’m praying that
here, in NYC, at this time.
God helps me continue to rise and respond to this call with diligence, with creativity, and with courage. —Susan, A REDEEMER CONGREGANT
WE NEED: you to rise
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FINANCIAL UPDATE We have an exciting update on the financial progress of the
WE ASK YOU TO CONTINUALLY PRAY FOR THE
Rise Campaign! Earlier this year, 2,800 people from all three
WORK STILL AHEAD OF US AS WE STILL HAVE A
congregations came together and pledged a total of $32.5M
WAYS TO GO BEFORE REACHING OUR GOAL OF
towards the first phase of a 10-year vision for NYC. This number
$80M! YOUR GIFTS, ALONG WITH THE GENEROSITY
almost doubles what our congregations have pledged in past
OF SUPPORTERS OUTSIDE OF NYC, IS MAKING THE
capital campaigns. Not only was this encouraging but it served
RISE VISION POSSIBLE.
as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and provision. On top of this, prior to the Rise campaign, supporters outside
THANK YOU!
of New York, external to Redeemer had already pledged $20M, which brought our total pledge number to $52.5M. We are excited to announce that those supporters have gone further
CAMPAIGN GIVING
and increased their pledge from $20M to $28M! This puts us at
As of October 10, 2016
$60M in total pledges towards our goal of $80M.
$80.0M
TOTAL GOAL
$60.0M
TOTAL PLEDGED*
$13.3M
TOTAL RECEIVED*
OTH E R STATS Pledges and One Time Gifts given to Rise to date Completed Pledges Givers have started fulfilling Rise pledge
*$27.5M has been pledged by donors outside the local Redeemer community. To date we have received $10.1M from those donors.
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10 CHURCHES. 10 DAYS. 10 DOLLARS. 10X10 CAMPAIGN UPDATE
In August we launched a mini, national campaign to invite friends of Redeemer to help us plant 10 churches
As part of the campaign we released a series of posts from Tim about gospel movements titled:
in 10 days with gifts of $10 or more. 1800 people responded to the vision, raising over $100,000,
>> Why You Still Need The Gospel
which unlocked a $1M matching gift.
>> Why There Aren’t Enough Churches We also released a podcast conversation where Tim Keller discusses what makes a gospel movement and the inflection point we find ourselves in today. We even did a Facebook Live event with Tim while he was on vacation at the beach. Through all of this, we are excited that enough money was raised to fund 10 new church plants in New York City over the next year in joint partnership with City to City. Please join us in celebrating what God has done and is still doing!
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>> The Work of God in the Cities of Man
New Churches
New Buildings
New Churches are shown to be the most effective
New Buildings are crucial in order to be rooted in the
method of reaching those not already part of a church,
fabric of a neighborhood and Redeemer is dedicated
and because of this we are excited to announce the
to raising the remaining amount needed (for our
launch of a West Side daughter site on April 16, 2017.
projected purchase and construction budget) to move
The new site will be at the New York Society for Ethical
ahead with owning a new East Side worship center.
Culture at the corner of Central Park West and 64th St and will be led by Rev. Michael Keller. Michael graduated
New Leaders continued on next page .
from Vanderbilt University, went to seminary at GordonConwell Seminary and just handed his thesis for his Ph.D in computational linguistics at the Free University of Amsterdam. Before founding the college ministry Reformed University Fellowship City Campus in New York City where he served as Director for 7 years, Michael worked at London City Mission and Citylife Presbyterian Church as the Pastor of Community Life. This new site is especially significant in light of the recent Rise Campaign, as we will be the first expression of the site launches that Redeemer plans to start out of each of our our three congregations. As we seek to multiply the gospel movement God is growing in New York City, we will need hundreds of congregants to step out in faith with us to start this new site. If you live on the West Side and are looking for a way to “Rise Where You Are,” please prayerfully consider joining us. To find out more about what’s happening with our plans, you can sign up for email updates by visiting redeemer.com/lincolnsquare. —Michael & Sara Keller
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New Leaders New Leaders are needed in both ministry and the
involving 21 apprentices from 11 churches, this year CTC
marketplace. We are excited to announce three
will welcome 70-80 apprentices from more than 30
initiatives that were launched this September as a
churches across NYC. The nine-month program aims to
part of the Rise vision! These are each key parts of
help participants deepen their daily experience of the
our strategy to raise new leaders to serve the growing
gospel, identify their unique calling, and understand
movement in the city.
how to engage the city effectively. CTC will lead apprentices through five Saturday morning learning
RPC Residency Program
sessions and two site visits, while an experienced
This fall Redeemer launched a full-time two-year
church leader will supervise each apprentice in a
residency program to prepare pastors for gospel
ministry assignment and meet for one-on-one bi-
ministry in NYC. Four inaugural pastoral residents
monthly coaching sessions.
will go through an intensive learning experience while receiving training, feedback and coaching from
23 Seminary Scholarships Awarded
Redeemer pastors and directors.
Because of Rise, Redeemer City Ministry Program (RCM) is now offering 23 scholarships to incoming and
Apprenticeship Program
returning students for the Fall 2016 semester. RCM is a
This September, Redeemer City to City rolled out an
strategic partnership between Reformed Theological
Apprentice Program designed to help NYC pastors
Seminary (RTS) and Redeemer City to City (CTC) with
develop young adults within their congregations into
the goal to provide theological education and practical
potential leaders. After an extremely successful pilot
ministry training in NYC.
We believe God could use our gifts, time and ministries to triple the body of Christ in center city New York from 5% of to 15% over the next ten years. A critical step towards making that vision a reality is to turn all pledges into nancial contributions. Right now, about 50% of our Rise givers have not started ful lling their pledge. Our hope is that everyone will begin by this fall. If you haven’t done so already, you can easily start ful lling your gift by setting up a recurring plan at redeemer.com/giving.
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PRAYER REQUESTS NO VISION THIS LARGE CAN BE UNDERTAKEN WITHOUT TREMENDOUS, PERSISTENT PRAYER.
GOSPEL MOVEMENT Pray for the congregants of Redeemer and believers across the city to discern how the Spirit is leading them to rise and serve in this time and place, for the good of the city that blessings and goodness multiplies. LAUNCH OF WEST SIDE SITE Pray for the work and for all the many pieces to come together over the next seven months in order to begin holding worship services on April 16, 2017. FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Seek the peace and prosperity of the city…
PRAY TO THE LORD FOR IT because if it prospers, you too will prosper.
We ask you to continually pray for the work still ahead of us as we continue to raise $20M, from partners
Jeremiah 29:5–7
around the country, in order to reach our goal of $80M. APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM That the new class of apprentices would form deep and lasting bonds of friendship that cross ethnic, denominational, and geographic lines. Also, that each apprentice would experience the gospel more richly as a result of our Gospel Theology session on October 1.
Redeemer Presbyterian Church • 1166 Avenue of the Americas, 16th Floor • New York, NY 10036