In Washington, DC, a new church plant is finding ways to reach the unchurched.

In Washington, DC, a new church plant called District Community is finding ways to reach the unchurched.

Pastor Joanne says, “We wanted to plant a church that would reach young professionals, a church that would reach those that weren’t going to church. We noticed that the number one issue in Washington, DC, is loneliness.” District Community wanted to create a welcoming space where people could know who God is and experience Him through their love, kindness, and compassion.

The District Community church plant has a large team passionate about reaching their city.

“I think it’s great that we’re in the city because . . . there are more people we can reach out to,” says Kim, a worship team leader. “That’s what Jesus did. We’re just spreading the love of God, His Word, so that anybody that comes through these doors will see Jesus through our church.”

The team plans many creative ways to involve and support the community around them. A free exercise class on the National Mall was one of their first outreach activities. Many people joined in, curious to learn more about the new church.

Since then, many holiday dinners, birthday parties, and other events have supported families in the neighborhood. All these new ideas have helped them succeed in their desire to make people feel the love of Jesus.

Recently, Kim invited a friend who no longer attended church to visit Community District. The friend brought her boyfriend, who doesn’t come from a church background. After the service, they told Kim they had felt at home at the church. “Now she’s part of our worship team, which is amazing,” Kim says. “Her boyfriend’s also serving on our team. So, it’s just things like that: God working in everybody’s lives and seeing the blessings pour out in different ways on individual people.”

District Community has seen its church plant transformed by following Christ’s method of ministry as outlined on page 143 of Ellen White’s book The Ministry of Healing: She wrote, “Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’” Many new believers have joined their group, but they want to do more.

“Here at District Community, we want to continue to grow because there are so many people that need to know and experience the love of Jesus,” Joanne says. “But not only grow in this space. We want to multiply . . . to create other campuses . . . where people can know Jesus.

“I believe God has called us to go into all the world to share His love and grace and mercy, and that includes the cities. That’s why we’re going into the city. Because there are people there that need to know who Jesus is.”

Please pray for church plants such as the District Community that are striving to reach the vast mission field of the cities. Your donations help Global Mission start new groups of believers worldwide. Thank you for your continued support!