City Church of Wilmington

• Jason Sica
• Jul 14, 2010
• Series: Church Profiles
• Categories: Church Planting Articles

Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church 

My call to church planting emerged in seminary as I reached the conclusion that church planting was the most stragegic way to reach unchurched/dechurched people. I also had opportunitites to do internships in a church plant. This fleshed out my calling to plant a church as I found that the church planting envrionment energizes me. I spent four years on staff at a church as an assistant pastor. I gained invaluable experience and had my love for the city of Wilmington deepened. It became clear during those years that God was leading me to plant a church in Wilmington.

How did you build up your core? What advice would you give to guys in the core-stage? 

Spend time w/ people and work like crazy to cultivate an environment where people are welcomed regardless of where they are in their spiritual journey. Core members will be bringers if this is the ethos of the church community.

What were the biggest challenges you faced in planting your church (and/or currently facing)? 

Dealing with disappointments along the way through the framework of the gospel

How did you become involved with Acts 29? What have been the biggest benefits of being in the network? 

I became involved in A29 thru the influence of liberti church in Philadelphia. The biggest benefits have been the training (boot camp, regional events, media, etc).

What advice do you have for men who are wrestling with the decision to plant? 

Seek out the advice and wisdom of lots of people who know you well. Involve these people in the process.

How do you pastor your family? 

Involve them in ministry, talk to them about Jesus at every opportunity, give them a love for our city, model the gospel for them through repentance and faith

Outside of the Bible, what is the most helpful book you have read for church planting?

The Provocative Church by Graham Tomlin

What are some examples of God's grace that you have seen in your life and/or the life of your church? 

How God brings the right people for leadership at just the right time

How can we pray for you? 

Pray that some of the unbelievers hanging around our community would come to faith in Christ. Also, pray that we would find good worship space for our launch of weekly worship in September

Church Profile: City Church of Wilmington 
Launch: September 12, 2010
Location: Wilmington, DE

Mission, Vision, Values of Church 

City Church is a collection of people with diverse stories and backgrounds seeking to walk authentically with God, find belonging in community, and live redemptively in the everyday stuff of life. Our vision is to see God's story of redemption shape the story of our lives, our church, and our city.

What is your philosophy of community in your church and what does that look like practically in your church? Of evangelism? 

Community - We're trying to move from viewing church as an event to viewing church as a community of people who do life together. Home groups are critical for us as we seek to live this out practically.

Evangelism - We're always working hard to create an authentic and comprehensible environment for unchurched/dechurched people. Such an environement fosters and motivates evangelism as evangelism at its best is a community project.

What are some examples of God's grace that you have seen in your life and/or the life of your church? 

How God brings the right people for leadership at just the right time