Prospectus

Prospectus

For the glor y of God and the joy of the city.

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Harlem is a neighborhood in Manhattan that runs from 110th Street to 155th Street. It is one of the most diverse areas of Manhattan’s 13-mile island. It still pulses with the vibrancy and life that came out of the Harlem Renaissance.

But with all its diversity and life, many people in our neighborhood need the hope of the Gospel and the hope of his call to live their lives for his glory and purpose in our city.

Our vision is to plant a flourishing church that will steward our power (knowledge, access, resources, networks, relationships, experience, and gifts) to reach, disciple, and empower people in Harlem who lack those very things.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD: HARLEM

DEMOGRAPHICS

OF HOUSEHOLDS CONSIST OF FAMILIES

51%OF HOUSEHOLDS CONSIST OF SINGLE-PARENT HOMES

34%OF HOUSEHOLDS RELY ON SOME FORM OF GOVERNMENT INCOME SUPPORT

37%129,881 RESIDENTS32 MEDIAN AGE

26% POVERTY RATE$45,765 MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME

DIVERSITY

Harlem is one of the most culturally diverse areas in both New York City and in the United States. Its cultural diversity has a long history, impacted by its predominantly black and Hispanic population.

The area of our plant reflects the diversity of the community:

42% Hispanic 24% black 23% white 11% other

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We want people to have an imagination for the good news of Jesus.

We want people to have an imagination for his glorious call.

We want to give Harlem new hope.

NEW HOPE FOR HARLEM

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Jason and Jyothi moved to Harlem five years ago with the hopes of planting a church there. Jason was a church planting intern at the Community of Grace; and in 2016, he was asked to become the next lead pastor of the church, and officially took the lead role in 2017.

Since that time, with much prayer, fasting, and seeking counsel, he and the elders decided that it was best for the church to close down and replant as a brand new church in Harlem.

Jason believes that his life is a miracle. It is a miracle that he knows Jesus, knows the Gospel, as no one was declaring it in his community while he was growing up. And it is a miracle that he has the privilege of serving Jesus with his life, of living for the glory of God and the joy of the city.

And in the past year, God has stirred Jason and Jyothi to plant a church that would reach people like them 20 years ago. A church that will declare the hope of Jesus in a community where Christ is not proclaimed, and a church that will declare the hope of a calling more glorious than they could ever have imagined.

THE PLANTING FAMILY: JASON & JYOTHI JAMES

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There are currently 41 adults and 19 children on their core team.

Eleven ethnicities are represented in that group:

THE PLANTING TEAM

Korean African-American White

Chinese Japanese Polish

Portuguese Puerto Rican Costa Rican

Indian Haitian

God is truly shaping this team to be the multicultural church that will reach, disciple, and empower people for his glory and the joy of the city.

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VISION

We are a multicultural church that reaches, disciples, and empowers people for the glory of God and the joy of the city.

CULTURE

• We will love God’s glory above all. • We will boast in Jesus alone. • We will seek his kingdom first. • We will depend upon God as a way of life. • We will pursue togetherness. • We will pursue sacrificial love.

PRACTICES

• We will disciple people through powerful Sunday services. • We will know one another through formative journey groups. • We will have six reach events a year geared to let the

neighborhood know that we love them. • We will have six empower events that equip the church for the

work of ministry, and the people of city towards their calling.

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Launch Date September 2019

Annual Budget $150,000

TIMELINE

Year 1 • Internal Giving: $60,000 • Outside Support: $90,000

Year 2 • Internal Giving: $75,000 • Outside Support: $75,000

Year 3 • Internal Giving: $100,000 • Outside Support: $50,000

Year 4 • Internal Giving: $125,000 • Outside Support: $25,000

Year 5 • Internal Giving: $150,000 • Outside Support: $0

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JOIN US

PRAY Our greatest strength is a faithful God who works for those who wait for him. We know that God is the most decisive person in every situation and circumstance. Therefore, we know that prayer is one of the most important and productive things we can do. Would you commit to regularly praying for us and this new work?

GO We have followed Jesus’ call to pray for and call laborers. We believe the harvest is plenty and laborers are needed. Would you consider joining us or connecting us with others who would compelled to join a church like this?

GIVE Would you prayerfully consider giving to this new church plant? We know that God is the one who ultimately provides for us, but that he does is through your generosity and support. Please invest in this us, our team, and this church that will exist for his glory and the joy of the city.