CITY FIRST ANYWHERE IS MEETING PEOPLE RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE, BRINGING THE HOPE OF JESUS AND A PLACE TO FIND COMMUNITY.
CITY FIRST ACADEMY
In August of 2024, we launched the City First Academy, offering an adult learning track with the unique opportunity to engage in a transformative educational journey while receiving college credits as individuals learn about leadership and Biblical Studies.
Simultaneously, the CITY FIRST KIDS ACADEMY launched! This weekly gathering provides a pathway for kids to learn more about Jesus, memorize scripture, and GROW STRONGER IN THEIR FAITH THROUGH DISCIPLESHIP.
135 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN THE CITY FIRST ACADEMY THIS FALL.
CITY FIRST WORSHIP
FOREVERMORE, OUR FIRST CITY FIRST WORSHIP FULL LENGTH ALBUM, WAS RELEASED ON OCTOBER 11, 2024.
WE ARE BRINGING THE HOPE AND LOVE OF JESUS AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH WORSHIP MUSIC.
60 COUNTRIES LISTENING
130,000 AUDIO STREAMS
500,000 VIEWS ACROSS STREAMING PLATFORMS
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.
19,506 KID CHECK-INS TO CITY FIRST CHURCH
296 SALVATIONS IN KIDS MINISTRY THIS YEAR!
FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS
JESUS SAID, “I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, WHATEVER YOU DID FOR ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE BROTHERS OF MINE, YOU DID FOR ME” MATTHEW 25:40
BECAUSE OF YOUR GENEROSITY…
JUST THIS YEAR IN 2024:
121,516 101,263
17,717
3.5 MILLION
POUNDS OF FOOD GIVEN AWAY IN 2024
MEALS GIVEN AWAY
INDIVIDUALS FED
POUNDS OF FOOD GIVEN AWAY (SINCE 2020)
HOLIDAY BLESSINGS
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!
6,050
THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS MEALS WERE GIVEN TO THE HOMELESS AND HURTING THROUGH THE ROCKFORD RESCUE MISSION AND HOLIDAY FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS.
3,016
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS GIVEN TO CHILDREN IN NEED AT CONSTANCE LANE, ELLIS ELEMENTARY, JAMES STEPHENS, INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE AT CONKLIN, AND WESTVIEW ELEMENTARY.
FOR MANY STUDENTS, THIS MAY BE THE ONLY GIFT THEY RECEIVE FOR CHRISTMAS. YOUR GENEROSITY IS BRINGING JOY AND HOPE IN JESUS’ NAME.
SECOND SERVE SATURDAY
“WHEN RIGHT-LIVING PEOPLE BLESS THE CITY, IT FLOURISHES!”
PROVERBS 11:11
FOR THE LAST YEAR, 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.
33,378
27,817
3,613
POUNDS OF FOOD GIVEN AWAY TO THOSE LIVING IN THE 13TH WARD OF ROCKFORD MEALS DISTRIBUTED INDIVIDUALS FED
BACKPACK BLESSING
BECAUSE OF YOUR GENEROSITY, WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE AWAY 2,300
BACKPACKS
TO 10 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!
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
CITY FIRST CHURCH: A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS
THROUGH OUR WEEKLY CHAMPIONS CLUB AND ILLUMINATORS MINISTRIES FOR THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, WE PRIORITIZE THOSE WHO ARE MARGINALIZED AND OFTEN OVER-LOOKED. WE HAVE STATE OF THE ART ENVIRONMENTS WHERE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES CAN LEARN ABOUT JESUS IN A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT.
IN ADDITION, WE HOST AN ANNUAL PROM NIGHT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TIM TEBOW FOUNDATION!
NIGHT TO SHINE IS CENTERED ON GOD’S LOVE, HONORING AND VALUING PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
301 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN NIGHT TO SHINE AT OUR SPRING CREEK AND CAPE CORAL LOCATIONS!
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.
247 CHURCHES PLANTED
60,000 SALVATIONS RECORDED
TRAFFICKING HOPE
50 CHURCHES FUNDED
8,500+ PLANTERS TRAINED IN THE HISTORY OF CMN
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.
7 VICTIMS RESCUED
9 VICTIMS IDENTIFIED
107 TOTAL ARRESTS
135 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.
12,101 CONTACTS FIELDED (PHONE CALLS, EMAILS, TEXTS)
879 APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED THIS YEAR
109 WOMEN ATTENDED A FREEDOM RETREAT
193 PEOPLE HELPED THROUGH OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS
DISASTER RELIEF + CONVOY OF HOPE REAL HELP IN TIMES OF REAL NEED. CITY FIRST PROUDLY PARTNERS WITH CONVOY OF HOPE, WHO PROVIDES FIRST RESPONSE TO THOSE AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS IN JESUS’ NAME – SPECIFICALLY THE VICTIMS OF HURRICANE HELENE AND MILTON.
713
U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL DISASTER
RESPONSES TO DATE
182,316 PEOPLE SERVED
3,815,147 POUNDS OF RESOURCES DELIVERED
WORLD MISSIONS
CITY FIRST CHURCH WORLD MISSIONARIES
ERIN OLANDER- LITHUANIA
THE COLEMAN FAMILY- JAMAICA
THE SKINNER FAMILY- INDONESIA
THE WOOLLEY FAMILY- ECUADOR
NOLAN TARENTINO- ISRAEL
MICHAEL MCNAMEE- EUROPE
NICK AND HEATHER DURICK- THAILAND
DR. JACOB & CELESTE CARAOTTA FAMILYMEDICAL MISSIONS- CENTRAL AMERICA
ZOE INTERNATIONAL - THAILAND, JAPAN, MEXICO, AUSTRALIA
JOE SZABO - SPAIN
TROY DARRIN - MOLDOVA
JON PAULSEN - BURUNDI
SHAWN SISLO - MEXICO
KIRK AND SANDI BROWN - ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNITED STATES MISSIONS
COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL
CITY FIRST CHURCH PARTNERS WITH COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL IN AN EFFORT TO END CHILD POVERTY BY CONNECTING BY FIGHTING MALNUTRITION, DELIVERING MEDICAL CARE AND SHARING THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL, WHICH CHANGES EVERYTHING.
901
KIDS SPONSORED IN BURKINA FASO, WEST AFRICA
208
KIDS SPONSORED IN GUATEMALA
1,837
TOTAL SPONSORED CHILDREN
ZOE INTERNATIONAL
IS WORKING AROUND THE GLOBE WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO RESCUE VICTIMS, PREVENT HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND RESTORE INDIVIDUALS IN JESUS’ NAME. ZOE HAS RESCUE HOMES IN: THAILAND, AUSTRALIA, MEXICO, JAPAN, AND THE USA.
109 YOUTH VICTIMS SERVED IN US
436 DECISIONS TO FOLLOW JESUS IN THAILAND
70
CHILDREN LIVING IN THE RESCUE CENTER
CONVOY OF HOPE
WHETHER IT’S FEEDING CHILDREN, EMPOWERING WOMEN, TRAINING FARMERS, RESPONDING TO DISASTERS, OR SERVING A COMMUNITY IN NEED, THE GOAL IS TO BRING HELP AND HOPE WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED MOST.
SINCE 1994:
250M+ PEOPLE HELPED
996K+ VOLUNTEERS ENGAGED
2.5B+ FOOD & SUPPLIES SHARED
713M MEALS SERVED
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.
CITY FIRST CHURCH HAS BEEN TRAINING UP WORLD CHANGERS!
1,552 STUDENTS HAVE GRADUATED FROM CITY FIRST LEADERSHIP COLLEGE AND ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR JESUS AROUND THE GLOBE!
GOALS ACCOMPLISHED
LAUNCH CITY FIRST CHURCH IN JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN!
GOD IS FAITHFUL, AND CITY FIRST CHURCH IN JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN HAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED! THE LAST 12 MONTHS HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO BUILDING A CORE TEAM, RENOVATING THE CHURCH BUILDING, AND PRAYERFULLY SEEKING A LOCATION PASTOR. GOD HAS ANSWERED OUR PRAYERS AS WE BRING HIS LOVE TO THE PEOPLE OF JANESVILLE.
LAUNCH CITY FIRST ACADEMY (ADULT LEARNING TRACK)
WHAT BEGAN AS A DREAM IS NOW A REALITY, WITH 31 INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED IN THE CITY FIRST ACADEMY. PARTICIPANTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE COURSES TOWARDS EARNING A CERTIFICATE OF LEADERSHIP AND/OR A CERTIFICATE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES. CLASSES TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY EVENINGS AT THE SPRING CREEK AND CAPE LOCATIONS, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS EXPANDING TO ALL LOCATIONS IN THE FUTURE.
LAUNCH CITY FIRST KIDS ACADEMY
IN TANDEM WITH THE CITY FIRST ACADEMY FOR ADULTS, KIDS ACADEMY LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 2024 WITH OVER 100 PARTICIPANTS. CHILDREN ARE LEARNING TO MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE, ARE ACTIVE IN DISCIPLESHIP AND SMALL GROUPS, AND THEY ARE BUILDING THEIR FAITH IN COMMUNITY! OUR PRAYER IS TO SEE KIDS ACADEMY ACTIVE AT EVERY CITY FIRST LOCATION IN 2025.
EMPOWERMENT CENTER (IN PROCESS)
OUR GOD-SIZED DREAM IS FOR AN EMPOWERMENT CENTER BUILDING IN ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS. THOUGH THIS HAS NOT BEEN REALIZED YET, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO BRING THE FUNCTIONS OF AN EMPOWERMENT CENTER TO THE 13TH WARD OF ROCKFORD. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE CONSISTENTLY PROVIDING FOOD, BRINGING HOPE THROUGH PRAYER AND PASTORAL CARE, AND WE WILL BEGIN TO HOLD SERVICES IN THIS REGION.
FUTURE GOALS
GOD BEHIND BARS, WISCONSIN
WE BELIEVE THAT FREEDOM IS FOR EVERYONE. WE ARE PRAYING AND BELIEVING THAT GOD WOULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR A GOD BEHIND BARS LOCATION IN WISCONSIN. THIS WOULD GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST A WEEKLY IN-PERSON SERVICE FOR INMATES WHO ARE IN DESPERATE FOR THE HOPE AND LOVE OF JESUS.
NEXT GEN SPACE REFRESH
AT OUR SPRING CREEK LOCATION, THE AMPHITHEATER HAS HOSTED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS THROUGHOUT ITS LONG HISTORY OF 28 YEARS. IT HAS HAD MUCH WEAR AND TEAR AND IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF UPGRADES (FLOORING, LIGHTENING, PAINT, TECH UPGRADES, BATHROOM RENOVATIONS AND MORE). GOD IS STIRRING REVIVAL IN THIS YOUNGER GENERATION, AND WE FEEL COMPELLED TO CREATE A FRESH ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOUTH CAN GATHER AND ENCOUNTER GOD!
BUILDING UPGRADES
ACROSS LOCATIONS, BUILDING UPGRADES ARE NEEDED IN ORDER TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN AN EXCELLENT SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER AND GROW IN THEIR FAITH. AT OUR SPRING CREEK LOCATION, THERE IS A NEED FOR NEW HVAC UNITS IN THE MAIN AUDITORIUM, BATHROOM RENOVATIONS, AND CARPET IN THE FOYER. AT OUR CAPE CORAL LOCATION, THERE IS A GREAT NEED TO EXPAND AND RENOVATE THE KID’S SPACES TO BEST SERVE THIS GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC.
EMPOWERMENT CENTER
WE ARE PRAYING AND BELIEVING FOR A PERMANENT BUILDING NEAR THE 13TH WARD OF ROCKFORD. HOWEVER UNTIL THEN, WE WILL BEGIN TO EXPAND OUR REACH BEYOND SECOND SATURDAY SERVE TO PROVIDE MOBILE EFFORTS THAT WOULD INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: A CONSISTENT FOOD PANTRY, YOUTH PROGRAMMING, AND SUNDAY SERVICES. IT IS OUR PRAYERFUL DESIRE TO BRING HELP TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST.
