by Anthony Lane, City Youth | Mission Director
In our world, there are pockets of brokenness and hurt, but there are also individuals and organizations painting pictures of beauty in these places. At City Church, we believe in the biblical call to missions and partner with different organizations who are bringing hope and restoration to those in need.
This is why we have established relationships with local mission partners who are making a significant impact in our communities. Many areas in our city are often plagued by disintegrated families, poverty, and systems of injustice. Agape Development and Casa El Buen Samaritano are working to transform these neighborhoods by providing physical and spiritual care to those in need. Restoring Justice provides excellent legal, social, and spiritual services to people accused of crimes who cannot afford to hire attorneys themselves, following Jesus in his call to “proclaim good news to the poor . . . freedom for prisoners . . . and the oppressed.” Small Steps Nurturing Center is instilling hope and fostering growth in economically at-risk children and their families through their exemplary early childhood program. Our partners at Pathways for Little Feet are building bridges of support and forging paths of support for families who are answering the call to provide children with a permanent home through the gift of adoption. Houston is also a major hub for human trafficking, and our partners at The Landing provide a safe haven for victims of this heinous crime by meeting basic needs and sharing resources to encourage and empower survivors on the road to healing. Finally, those at Houston Responds are on a mission to unite, empower, and mobilize churches across Greater Houston to expedite long-term recovery, respond to community crises, and prepare for future disasters.
Outside of Houston, we partner with International Justice Mission, Bridges International, and another organization (name is not listed due to security reasons), who work to protect the vulnerable, serve those in need across the world, and bring the good news to communities that need it. We support the Ex-Nihilo Collective as they empower creatives to reflect their creator and are spreading hope nationally and internationally through their concept, The Hope Booth, a three-minute experience through refurbished phone booths that spread a message of hope, with the goal that no one goes unseen. We also partner with campus ministries like Reformed University Fellowship, Athletes in Action, and Intervarsity to serve college students in this unique stage of life. Our partners at RYM (Reformed Youth Ministries) serve the church in reaching and equipping youth for Christ.
City Church started as a church plant and we believe that church planting is a critical part of extending the gospel. Our current church planting partners are The West Church, serving the community of Alief here in Houston, and Caleb and Summer Shocklie in Edinburgh, Scotland, who are starting an ECO church (our denomination) there.
While we partner with international, national, and local mission partners, we also help the City Church community in practical ways through our diaconate. From job loss to unexpected illness, or even natural disasters, the diaconate walks alongside those in need to meet spiritual, physical, and emotional needs. You can email them at care@citychurch.org.
At City Church we believe that every person is a living stone in the church, made to know their creator, to serve and love others. Each person brings different expertise, gifts, and talents to the table, and we all have a role to play in bringing restoration to our world. As we engage in gospel mission with our partners, we are reminded of our own brokenness and our desperate need for God’s grace. If you would like to learn more or get involved with any of our partners, please contact anthony@citychurch.org. May we continue to serve and love those around us, trusting in the power and love of our Savior.