HERE’S ANOTHER WAY TO PUT IT: YOU’RE HERE TO BE LIGHT, BRINGING OUT THE GOD-COLORS IN THE WORLD. GOD IS NOT A SECRET TO BE KEPT. WE’RE GOING PUBLIC WITH THIS, AS PUBLIC AS A CITY ON A HILL. IF I MAKE YOU LIGHT-BEARERS, YOU DON’T THINK I’M GOING TO HIDE YOU UNDER A BUCKET, DO YOU? I’M PUTTING YOU ON A LIGHT STAND. NOW THAT I’VE PUT YOU THERE ON A HILLTOP, ON A LIGHT STAND—SHINE! KEEP OPEN HOUSE; BE GENEROUS WITH YOUR LIVES. BY OPENING UP TO OTHERS, YOU’LL PROMPT PEOPLE TO OPEN UP WITH GOD, THIS GENEROUS FATHER IN HEAVEN. MATTHEW 5:14-16
Dear City First Family, As City First Church, we care about the one. Every person matters to God, and so every person matters to us. We are called to make a difference in this world, and be a part of the solution. God has positioned His church to shine bright for Jesus, bringing light into the darkest corners of our cities, nation, and world. We are to help the hurting (both spiritually and physically), feed the hungry, provide for the homeless, care for the orphans - and tell anyone and everyone about the Good News of Jesus. Legacy is above and beyond our regular giving. There are five Legacy Lanes we focus on throughout the year: City First Building and Expansion, Local Missions, National Missions, World Missions, and City First Leadership College. Because of your generosity this year, we’ve accomplished so much together! This Legacy Report testifies to the goodness of God! Thank you for being such a generous church – your giving is changing lives and leaving a legacy! God Bless, Jeremy & Jen
Jeremy & Jen Senior Pastors, Jeremy & Jen DeWeerdt
WE EXIST TO INTRODUCE EVERYONE TO JESUS AND TEACH THEM TO FOLLOW HIM
CITY FIRST BUILDING AND EXPANSION SEE HOW YOUR GIVING IS MAKING AN ETERNAL DIFFERENCE!
LIFE CHANGE EVERY NUMBER HAS A NAME EVERY NAME HAS A STORY
EVERY STORY MATTERS TO GOD
2,705
INDIVIDUALS MADE THE DECISION TO FOLLOW JESUS
300+ WERE WATER BAPTIZED
PRISON MINISTRY 2
438 755,435+ 815+ 138 18 City First Has Been Viewed
IN-PERSON PRISON LOCATIONS DIXON CORRECTIONAL CENTER HARDEE CORRECTIONAL CENTER VIRTUAL CITY FIRST PRISON LOCATIONS THROUGH THE PANDO APP BY INMATES WHO ARE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED VIRTUAL SALVATIONS
IN-PERSON SALVATIONS
WATER BAPTISMS AT HARDEE CORRECTIONAL CENTER
NICK S STORY ‘
Nick was incarcerated at Hardee Correctional Center for several years. While in prison, he found Jesus through City First Church and became an active member of the church. Nick was part of the weekly services held at Hardee, as well as small groups that met regularly within the facility. Directly following the City First Church Easter services in April of 2023, Nick, along with 17 other Hardee inmates were baptized - declaring that the old life is gone and a new life in Christ has begun! Nick was released in October of this year and immediately started attending City First Church in Cape Coral. He instantly found community and family. Nick has already been through Growth Track, serves at the church, and participates in community outreach. City First Church has been able to help Nick acclimate back into society by helping him find a job, assisting with rides to and from church, providing him and his family with groceries and essentials, as well as gifting him with a bicycle for personal transportation. Nick has been an owner at City First Church for years, the location in which he attends has simply changed.
CITY FIRST JANESVILLE ONE CHURCH, MULTIPLE LOCATIONS!
CITY FIRST CHURCH JANESVILLE WILL BE LAUNCHING IN 2024! WE EXIST TO BE A MOVEMENT OF GOD’S LOVE SO THAT CITIES ARE FULL OF HOPE, AND PEOPLE ARE FULL OF PURPOSE.
CITY FIRST ANYWHERE IS MEETING PEOPLE RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE, BRINGING THE HOPE OF JESUS AND A PLACE TO FIND COMMUNITY.
CITY FIRST CHURCH IS REACHING 50 STATES 80 COUNTRIES 8.4 MILLION VIEWS
CITY FIRST ACADEMY WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF THE CITY FIRST ACADEMY IN THE FALL OF 2024.
THIS ADULT LEARNING TRACK IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN A TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY WHILE RECEIVING COLLEGE CREDITS. TWO DISTINCT PATHS WILL BE OFFERED: A CERTIFICATE OF LEADERSHIP STUDIES AND A CERTIFICATE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, LEADERS WILL BE EQUIPPED AND EMPOWERED FOR KINGDOM IMPACT!
KIDS AND YOUTH MINISTRY THRIVE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT CONFERENCE:
900+ STUDENTS IN ATTENDANCE IT’S NOT JUST A CONFERENCE, IT’S A GOD ENCOUNTER.
17,937 KID CHECK-INS TO CITY FIRST CHURCH
281 SALVATIONS IN KIDS MINISTRY THIS YEAR!
LOCAL MISSIONS BACKPACK BLESSING
BECAUSE OF YOUR GENEROSITY, WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE AWAY
2,300 BACKPACKS TO 15 LOCAL SCHOOLS IN THE ROCKFORD AND CAPE CORAL REGIONS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN NEED. THANK YOU FOR INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION, IN JESUS’ NAME!
FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS JUST THIS YEAR IN 2023:
191,000 POUNDS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTED 159,156 MEALS GIVEN AWAY 11,369 INDIVIDUALS FED POUNDS OF FOOD 3.4 MILLION DISTRIBUTED (SINCE 2020)
HOLIDAY OUTREACH
WE KNOW THE HOLIDAYS CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR MANY. THROUGH YOUR GENEROSITY, WE ARE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING HOPE AND JOY IN JESUS’ NAME!
11,000
2,500
THANKSGIVING MEALS WERE GIVEN TO THE HOMELESS AND HURTING THROUGH ROCKFORD RESCUE MISSION, HOLIDAY FOOD DISTRIBUTION, AND OPERATION BLESSING. CHRISTMAS PRESENTS GIVEN TO CHILDREN IN NEED AT CONSTANCE LANE, ELLIS, JAMES STEPHENS, AND PINE ISLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
EASTER HELICOPTER
EGG DROP
OVER 17,000 PEOPLE
FROM THE ROCKFORD AND CAPE CORAL COMMUNITIES MADE THEIR WAY TO CITY FIRST CHURCH TO BE A PART OF OUR EASTER HELICOPTER EGG DROP! EACH FAMILY WAS INVITED TO BE A PART OF CITY FIRST CHURCH, AND RECEIVED A MESSAGE OF HOPE AT THE EASTER SERVICES!
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS CITY FIRST IS HONORED TO HAVE ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS AND OFFER CONTINUAL SUPPORT TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS:
ROCKFORD RESCUE MISSION PREGNANCY CARE CENTER OF ROCKFORD KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOD PANTRY NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK ONE MORE CHILD MIDWEST FOOD BANK THRIVE PREGNANCY CARE CENTER CHILDREN’S NETWORK LEE HEALTH ACT BETTER TOGETHER
SECOND SERVE SATURDAY
13TH WARD OF ROCKFORD FOR THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS, THROUGH OUR SECOND SERVE SATURDAY INITIATIVE, WE HAVE MADE A CONCENTRATED EFFORT TO BLESS THE 13TH WARD OF ROCKFORD. WE HAVE HOSTED MONTHLY BLOCK PARTIES AND PROVIDED FOOD, HAIRCUTS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, WINTER COATS, AND GLOVES. MOST OF ALL, WE HAVE BROUGHT THE HOPE OF JESUS AS HE IS EXPANDING OUR REACH TO SERVE THIS PART OF OUR CITY IN JESUS’ NAME.
50,000
POUNDS OF FOOD GIVEN AWAY TO THOSE LIVING IN THE 13TH WARD OF ROCKFORD
47,000
MEALS DISTRIBUTED
1,000
PEOPLE HELPED
PLEASE CONTINUE TO BE IN PRAYER ABOUT THE FUTURE LOCATION OF THE CITY FIRST EMPOWERMENT CENTER,
LAUNCHING IN 2024!
BRINGING HELP AND HOPE TO OUR CITY.
NATIONAL
MISSIONS CHURCH MULTIPLICATION NETWORK
CMN CONTINUES TO PRAYERFULLY AND STRATEGICALLY TRAIN PASTORS AND PLANT CHURCHES, FUND MISSIONARIES, AND HOST CONFERENCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPANDING GOD’S KINGDOM.
265 60,000 CHURCHES PLANTED
SALVATIONS RECORDED
717
CHURCHES FUNDED
8,500+ PLANTERS TRAINED IN THE HISTORY OF CMN
TRAFFICKING HOPE
TRAFFICKING HOPE EXISTS TO BRING HOPE TO SURVIVORS AS WELL AS SUPPORT TO THOSE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING. IT EDUCATES, EQUIPS, AND EMPOWERS SO THE MASSIVE PROBLEM OF TRAFFICKING DOESN’T FEEL SO HOPELESS. TOGETHER, WE CAN END IT.
6
VICTIMS RESCUED
66
VICTIMS IDENTIFIED
9
TOTAL ARRESTS
55
OUTREACHES
MERCY MULTIPLIED
MERCY MULTIPLIED EXISTS TO PROVIDE YOUNG WOMEN WITH TOOLS FOR FREEDOM FROM LIFE-CONTROLLING ISSUES AND SITUATIONS INCLUDING ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, ABUSE, EATING DISORDERS, SELF-HARM, ADDICTIONS, UNPLANNED PREGNANCY, AND TRAUMA FROM SEX TRAFFICKING.
12,750 869 CONTACTS FIELDED (PHONE CALLS, EMAILS, TEXTS)
APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED THIS YEAR
57
WOMEN WELCOMED TO THE RESIDENTIAL HOME IN WEST MONROE, LA
179 PEOPLE HELPED IN LA TO DATE
WORLD MISSIONS CONVOY OF HOPE
CITY FIRST IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH CONVOY OF HOPE AND THE WORK THEY ARE DOING ALL AROUND THE WORLD IN JESUS’ NAME. RECENT INITIATIVES INCLUDE: ISRAEL RELIEF, EMERGENCY AID FOR MOROCCO EARTHQUAKE, HAWAII FIRES, HURRICANE IDALIA, PROVIDING FOOD IN ORPHANAGES IN KENYA, DISTRIBUTING MEALS TO PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE YEARSLONG DROUGHT IN THE HORN OF AFRICA, EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE IN TURKEY AND SYRIA, AND RESPONDING TO THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN SUDAN.
200
700
MILLION PEOPLE HELPED
MILLION MEALS SERVED
950,00 VOLUNTEERS ENGAGED
COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL
1,400 CHILDREN ARE SPONSORED IN BOGANDE, AFRICA. THESE CHILDREN RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE, EDUCATION, CHRIST-CENTERED GUIDANCE, FOOD, AND MORE.
ZOE INTERNATIONAL
RECENTLY CELEBRATED 20 YEARS OF MINISTRY AND IS STILL WORKING, ALONG WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS, IN THAILAND, AUSTRALIA, MEXICO, JAPAN, AND THE U.S. TO PREVENT TRAFFICKING, RESCUE VICTIMS, AND RESTORE THEM IN JESUS’ NAME.
70
CHILDREN RESCUED IN THAILAND
700
DECISIONS TO FOLLOW JESUS
70
CHILDREN LIVING IN THE RESCUE CENTER
WORLD MISSIONARIES ERIN OLANDER - LITHUANIA
MICHAEL MCNAMEE - EUROPE
THE COLEMAN FAMILY - JAMAICA
NICK AND HEATHER DURICK - THAILAND
THE SKINNER FAMILY - INDONESIA
ZOE INTERNATIONAL - THAILAND, JAPAN, MEXICO, AUSTRALIA
THE WOOLLEY FAMILY - ECUADOR NOLAN TARENTINO - EUROPE
CELEBRATING 31 YEARS OF MINISTRY! ONE OF THE GREATEST INVESTMENTS WE CAN MAKE IS TO TRAIN AND EQUIP YOUNG LEADERS TO CHANGE THE WORLD FOR CHRIST.
SINCE 1993, 1,536 STUDENTS CITY FIRST CHURCH HAS BEEN TRAINING UP WORLD CHANGERS!
HAVE GRADUATED FROM CITY FIRST LEADERSHIP COLLEGE AND ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR JESUS AROUND THE GLOBE!
GOALS ACCOMPLISHED SECOND SERVE SATURDAY
THE DREAM HAS BEEN REALIZED TO MOBILIZE THE CHURCH ON AN ONGOING BASIS OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH WALLS. IT LAUNCHED THIS PAST JULY WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE, AND IT HAS CONTINUED TO BUILD MOMENTUM AS WE HAVE COME TOGETHER TO SERVE AND LOVE OUR COMMUNITIES THE SECOND SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH.
RESIDENCY PROGRAM
THIS PAST YEAR WE LAUNCHED THE BRAND NEW RESIDENCY PROGRAM. FOUR RESIDENTS GRADUATED FROM THE RESIDENCY PROGRAM, AND ALL OF THEM ARE NOW SERVING IN FULL-TIME MINISTRY! THE PURPOSE OF OUR RESIDENCY PROGRAM IS TO EQUIP AND DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF PASTORS FOR A LIFETIME OF SIGNIFICANT MINISTRY LEADERSHIP. THIS PROGRAM IS UNIQUE IN ITS OFFERING OF HANDS-ON LEADERSHIP TRAINING, INSIGHTFUL MENTORING, AND STRATEGIC PREPARATION TO LAUNCH INTO FULL-TIME MINISTRY!
FUTURE GOALS OPEN A NORTHERN IL EMPOWERMENT CENTER
OUR GOD-SIZED DREAM IS TO BUILD AN EMPOWERMENT CENTER IN AN UNDERRESOURCED AREA OF ROCKFORD. IT IS OUR DESIRE TO SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS THROUGH MEETING THE SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL NEEDS OF THOSE WHO ARE MARGINALIZED AND SEE THEM EMPOWERED FOR A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE.
CITY FIRST CHURCH JANESVILLE
CITY FIRST IS ONE CHURCH WITH MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD A HEART TO REACH MORE PEOPLE FOR JESUS IN THE STATELINE AREA AND BEYOND. PLEASE CONTINUE TO JOIN US IN PRAYER AS WE SEE THIS VISION BECOME A REALITY IN 2024!
CITY FIRST ACADEMY (ADULT LEARNING TRACK)
IT IS OUR DESIRE TO LAUNCH AN ADULT LEARNING TRACK, OFFERING PARTICIPANTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE COURSES TOWARDS EARNING A CERTIFICATE OF LEADERSHIP STUDIES AND/OR A CERTIFICATE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES. CLASSES WILL TAKE PLACE ON A WEEKDAY EVENING AT BOTH THE SPRING CREEK AND CAPE CORAL LOCATIONS, TRAINING LEADERS TO IMPACT GOD’S KINGDOM.
CITY FIRST KIDS ACADEMY
CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE, AND IT IS OUR DESIRE TO TRAIN THEM IN THE WAYS OF JESUS. IN 2024, OUR PRAYERFUL DESIRE IS TO LAUNCH A KIDS ACADEMY, THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE THE SAME WEEKNIGHT AS THE CITY FIRST ACADEMY, ADULT LEARNING TRACK. THIS WOULD PROVIDE A PATHWAY FOR KIDS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JESUS, MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE, AND GROW STRONGER IN THEIR FAITH!
CITY FIRST LEADERSHIP COLLEGE
THERE IS AN URGENCY TO REACH YOUNG ADULTS WITH THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST AND TRAIN THEM UP IN THE WAYS OF GOD. WE DESIRE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THOSE ENTERING CITY FIRST LEADERSHIP COLLEGE.
NEVER DOUBT GOD’S MIGHTY POWER TO WORK IN YOU AND ACCOMPLISH ALL THIS. HE WILL ACHIEVE INFINITELY MORE THAN YOUR GREATEST REQUEST, YOUR MOST UNBELIEVABLE DREAM, AND EXCEED YOUR WILDEST IMAGINATION! EPHESIANS 3:20
TO GIVE OR WATCH THE LEGACY VIDEO SCAN HERE