Today’s post is written by Nate Howard, District Superintendent
On August 18, The Eastern PA District of the Alliance’s District Executive Committee (DEXCOM) voted unanimously to allocate one million dollars as a one-time, strategic investment for leadership development, church planting, and Kingdom advance in the city of Philadelphia by helping Citylight Church acquire a permanent building.
The investment was allocated out of $2.3 million the District holds in strategic reserves—funds that have accrued over the years from the sale of church closures and invested to increase their impact. Through strong fiscal and investment policy and budget practices, DEXCOM stewards the District finances, which include both the Eastern PA Partnership income and the strategic reserves. The mandate given to DEXCOM through District Conference is to manage and invest the resources God has granted for maximum Kingdom impact.
DEXCOM policy grants the committee the authority to invest portions of the strategic reserves in ministry opportunities where one-time, long-term, strategic Kingdom impact exists. DEXCOM looks to invest from our strategic reserves in ministries with an established track record of discipleship and church planting—investments with a high probability of Kingdom return. Over the course of this year, God has turned our eyes towards Philadelphia, and we have been looking for ways to increase our commitment to our most populated region.
The Need
Over the past three and a half years, as we have walked with Citylight Church, it’s become obvious that such a Kingdom opportunity exists. As a result, I reached out to Citylight Church, asking if there is a way we could make a significant contribution from our strategic reserves towards their efforts to acquire a permanent facility—a physical Kingdom footprint in Philadelphia. Here’s what Pastor Matt Cohen told us:
“The elders, leaders, and members of Citylight Church have come to the conviction that while we want to make disciples of Jesus to the glory of God right now, we want that mission to continue next year, in 5 years, in 25 years, and to the tenth generation if the Lord tarries.
In Northwest Philadelphia, property is becoming increasingly expensive and property owners will experience increasing pressure to not rent to a church like ours, a church that upholds the Bible’s teaching on gender, sexuality, and marriage. In fact, our views on human sexuality is one of the primary reasons why our lease at Mishkan Shalom Synagogue is not being renewed. Therefore, we believe that now is the time in Citylight Church’s history to purchase property.”
Citylight’s leadership has done extensive work to find a building. Unfortunately, escalating costs, due to an upsurge in property development, have resulted in Citylight repeatedly being outbid. Here’s Pastor Matt’s vision for the building:
“Central to our vision for owning a long-term facility is future church planting. Owning a long-term facility will help Citylight Church gain the strength, size, stability, and resources necessary to train church planters who will plant new churches in Philadelphia, and the surrounding region. Citylight Church’s long-term facility will provide the Eastern PA District with a significant beachhead in Philadelphia where future workers can be trained and from which they can be sent. Citylight Church’s long-term facility will help ensure that churches are planted regularly in our District’s least-churched region.”
The Opportunity
Citylight Church is currently under contract to purchase a beautiful and historic riverfront property on Main Street in Manayunk. Main Street is Manayunk’s busiest street and is the cultural hub of Northwest Philadelphia. Beyond the purchase of the property, the building will require significant modifications to function as a church.
God is providing in amazing ways through the people of Citylight Church. Over $2,500,000 has been raised, including a total of $400,000 pledged by people who once were “Citylighters” but have since moved away. Even with this significant financial support from the church, the exorbitant property and construction costs in Philadelphia leave Citylight Church falling short of the cash needed to obtain a loan.
DEXCOM prayerfully discerned that the purpose of our strategic reserves is an ideal match for Citylight’s need. As a result, we voted unanimously to give one million dollars to Citylight for their property purchase and renovation. Our investment makes it possible for them to qualify for a loan from Orchard Alliance and move forward with their multiplication vision.
This gift to Citylight Church is another example of the long-term culture of generosity in our district. We rejoice that over the past 5 years more than $3.1 million of the Eastern PA Partnership receipts ($620,000 on average) has been invested throughout the District in church planting subsidies, grants, scholarships, and other ministry investments.
In 2023, we are proposing a budget that includes over $700,000 for these same purposes. Even so, DEXCOM has increasingly asked: what would it look like to invest with that level of generosity in a way that reflects the large proportion of our District population that lives in Philadelphia? We celebrate that a significant gift to Philadelphia is a step in the right direction. May God grant more strategic investment opportunities in the days ahead.