Recent Update on Work

Pastor Joe began his work in Downtown San Diego in September 2009. His hope and desire is to see the people of Downtown transformed. By taking the role of a servant, he is learning about the people, the culture, and the needs of a very diverse area. It doesn't take long in the city to see diversity in many different forms; racial, economic, and lifestyle diversities, to name a few. Perhaps, one diversity that is not as recognizable is a religious diversity. San Diego, as you know, is one of the most unchurched areas in the country, Downtown may contain the highest percent of unchurched and dechurched people. This presents a great challenge for us, yet an incredible opportunity as well.

Having been in San Diego for only four months, we have been able to start a Bible Study for downtown professionals on Wednesday afternoons, a sign that we are striving to meet the Spiritual needs of the 70,000 commuters who make a daily drive into the city. We have also been in contact with some of the 35,000 residents who call downtown home, and are working with them to develop small groups; connecting them to each other in an individualistic culture, but also connecting them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. We also have teamed up and volunteered with other Christian non-profit agencies to meet the needs of the 4,000 person homeless population. We continue to take seriously the Great Commission of making more and better disciples of Jesus Christ.

Mission Field

This is the incredible city that we get the privelidge of serving and bringing the saving news of Jesus Christ to. Well it looks beautiful all lit up from afar, this city is just as great on the surface street. The difference in perspective allows you to see the brokeness that goes on in this city. In a town that attracts thousand of visitors a year who flock to "paradise," very few people know about the true paradise that is found through faith in Jesus. Here's something I wrote, when we first announced that we were being called to downtown urban ministry:

"What does a church in downtown San Diego look like? The city is such a diverse mix of people. If you haven't been downtown in a while, I encourage you to go down to the big city and sit and watch just one corner. If you can get down there around lunch time, you will find a great mix of people; people in suits, others in clothes that haven't been washed in months, people who are tourists, others who are businessmen, others who are homeless, and everyone in between. If you can't be there at noon, try an evening. The bars are all open and twenty-somethings flood the streets beneath the neon lights. Look up and see all of the high-rise buildings with lights on; people working late into the night, while others are settling in their high class condo. Look down a dark street and see the homeless making their beds on a concrete sidewalk.

Somewhere in those visits, you will see what a downtown church might look like. The church will look like the community that is being served. The thought of being called to start a downtown church is scary, and yet amazingly comforting. God has placed on our hearts to reach these people, and he has been preparing this place for us. The doors that have swung open are unreal, we have connections to every people group that we mentioned in the opening paragraph. In fact we have started our first Bible study in a lawyer's conference room on Wednesday mornings at 7:15! (Now at noon on Wednesdays) We are excited to start reaching out to more and more people in the next few weeks. Please keep us in your prayers, we thank you for those already offered for us."

My hope is that these words show the challenge and the diversity we see in a broken city...

New Stat that was just shared with me: 91% of people in San Diego County have not been in a church in the last year.



Please pray for us as we try to plant a church in VERY rocky soil