Come and see what the Lord has done! The amazing things He has done for people.
Psalm 66:5
The best is ahead when God’s people partner together. At City First Church, this past year we’ve seen God work in miraculous ways–changing countless stories for all of eternity. Stories of hope restored, faith renewed, families strengthened, and lives forever changed by Jesus.
God has positioned His Church to shine bright—bringing His light into the darkest corners of our cities, our nation, and the world. Together, we help the hurting, feed the hungry, care for the orphan, and most importantly, share the life-changing message of Jesus.
Legacy is above and beyond our regular giving. There are five Legacy Lanes we focus on throughout the year: City First Building and Expansion, Local Missions, National Missions, World Missions, and City First Leadership College. Because of God’s faithfulness and your generosity, we’ve accomplished so much together this year! This Legacy Report testifies to the goodness of God!
We reflect and give God thanks–we look forward with great anticipation!
God Bless,
Jeremy and Jen Senior Pastors
Documented decisions from individuals who said “yes” to Jesus—each one a story heaven is celebrating! (October 1, 2024 - October 1, 2025)
BUILDING
EXPANSION
720 WATER BAPTISMS
“For a while, I had felt like God was working hard to put me on His path, but I wasn’t doing my part to do the same. All that changed at Summer Camp 2025, when I was told I was not only valuable to God but to everybody at the church and in my life. In that moment, I realized I needed to get baptized and start on my journey by growing in my faith.”
- CHRIS B, CITY FIRST YOUTH
IN-PERSON EASTER ATTENDANCE: +38%
IN-PERSON SERVICE ATTENDANCE: +34%
BASED ON A FIVE-WEEK ROLLING AVERAGE (SEPT–OCT 2024–2025)
YOUTH ATTENDANCE: +19% KIDS FIRST TIME GUESTS:
1,748 DREAM TEAM MEMBERS:
1,393 DREAM TEAM CHECK-INS:
14,626
431 SALVATIONS IN KIDS/YOUTH MINISTRIES
31,508 ANNUAL KIDS CHECK-INS AT CITY FIRST CHURCH
1,095 STUDENTS AT THRIVE CONFERENCE. IT’S NOT JUST A CONFERENCE, IT’S AN ENCOUNTER!
293 YOUNG ADULTS WATER BAPTIZED
PRISON MINISTRY
“Without City First and its members breathing life into me, my life would be so much darker and painful. My life has been so enriched by City First, it’s members, and it’s message of how the Gospel of Christ is for me, for all of us inmates that have become disenfranchised. Each person at City First is such a blessing to me in that without you I would not be here today writing this letter and living a life of Faith, Hope, and Love.”
LARRY, HARDEE CORRECTIONAL CENTER
IN-PERSON PRISON LOCATIONS: DIXON CORRECTIONAL CENTER & HARDEE CORRECTIONAL CENTER
71
IN-PERSON SALVATIONS
18
WATER BAPTISMS AT HARDEE CORRECTIONAL CENTER
1,206
VIRTUAL SALVATIONS
885,760
VIEWS BY INMATES WHO ARE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED
677
VIRTUAL CITY FIRST PRISON LOCATIONS THROUGH THE PANDO APP
THE YEAR GOD WROTE NEW STORIES
CITY FIRST ANYWHERE IMPACT
CITY FIRST ANYWHERE is reaching people with the love of Jesus right where they are--whether they are in their living rooms, hospital rooms, or across the world.
50 STATES
128 COUNTRIES
2,300 CITIES
65M+ VIEWS
“When I first came to City First Church, I was struggling with a very nasty drug addiction that I could not stay clean for more than two days at a time. I really had no hope. As soon as the music was playing, it just felt like every lyric had to do with Jesus saving me. And I felt the whole time, the whole hour, the whole message was designed for me. I have never relapsed since coming to City First that first time. Anyone that has ever known me would tell you that is a giant miracle, because nothing in my life helped me get sober until I came to City First.”
– SHANE GILLENWATER
CITY FIRST JANESVILLE
This December, we celebrate one year since officially launching City First Janesville! SINCE THEN WE’VE SEEN: 103 PEOPLE SAY YES TO JESUS. 80 WALK THROUGH OUR DOORS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
DISCOVER PURPOSE THROUGH GROWTH TRACK.
LOCAL MISSIONS
FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS
“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
JUST THIS YEAR IN 2025:
108,379
POUNDS OF FOOD GIVEN AWAY
90,317
MEALS GIVEN AWAY
11,565
INDIVIDUALS FED
3,674,568
MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD GIVEN AWAY (SINCE 2020)
“For so many families, The Empowerment Center represents a second chance—a place to learn, to grow, and to be supported through life’s challenges. It brings neighbors closer, creates pathways for our youth, and reminds us all that greatness lives right here in our own.”
– JOHNTU BARNES, COMMUNITY MEMBER
2,267
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IMPACTED THROUGH SECOND SATURDAY SERVE EVENTS
926
DREAM TEAM VOLUNTEERS MOBILIZED TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY
23,571
POUNDS OF FOOD PROVIDED
620 FAMILIES FED
2,636
INDIVIDUALS FED
19,642 MEALS PROVIDED
30+ SALVATIONS
977
ATTENDED EC SERVICES & EVENTS
3,267
PEOPLE IMPACTED (THIS INCLUDES BLOCK PARTIES)
CHRISTMAS HOPE
3,057
Christmas presents were 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.
“We are so grateful and thankful for all of the gifts. Words can’t explain the joy I know I feel, and our staff feels. This is the most awesome feeling because it means so much and we really appreciate it.“
-LYNN LESLIE (PARENT LIAISON)
HOLIDAY MEALS
Thanksgiving and Christmas Meals were given to the homeless and hurting through the Rockford Rescue Mission and Holiday Food Distributions.
BACKPACK DRIVE
2,700
UNDER-RESOURCED STUDENTS RECEIVED A BACKPACK FILLED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES!
18 SCHOOLS WERE RECIPIENTS OF THESE BACKPACKS
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
City First Church 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
GIGI’S PLAYHOUSE
ONE MORE CHILD
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS
MIDWEST FOOD BANK
THRIVE PREGNANCY CARE CENTER
CHILDREN’S NETWORK
LEE HEALTH
ACT
BETTER TOGETHER
EMPOWERMENT CENTER
NIGHT TO SHINE + CHAMPIONS CLUB
In partnership with the Tim Tebow foundation, we host our annual Night to Shine--an unforgettable prom experience for those with special needs.
INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED ACROSS OUR SPRING CREEK AND CAPE CORAL LOCATIONS!
City First Church supports the strategic work of the following partner organizations:
CHURCH MULTIPLICATION NETWORK (CMN)
330 CHURCHES PLANTED
51 CHURCHES FUNDED
45,000 SALVATIONS RECORDED TRAFFICKING HOPE
6 VICTIMS RESCUED
20 VICTIMS IDENTIFIED
5,308 CHURCHES PLANTED IN THE HISTORY OF CMN
44 TOTAL ARRESTS
58 OUTREACHES
ASSOCIATION OF RELATED CHURCHES (ARC)
29
NEW CHURCHES PLANTED THIS YEAR
10,000+ ATTENDEES ON LAUNCH DAY
740 SALVATIONS ON LAUNCH DAY
$1B+ GIVEN TO MISSIONS AND OUTREACH WORLDWIDE
1,161 CHURCHES PLANTED TO DATE
15,000 TOTAL LAUNCH-DAY SALVATIONS
$80M INVESTED IN CHURCH PLANTING
REAL HELP IN TIMES OF REAL NEED. 800+ DISASTER RESPONSES
3.7M+ PEOPLE SERVED 53 U.S. RESPONSES 46
City First Church proudly partners with Convoy of Hope, who provides first response to those affected by natural disasters in Jesus’ name.
WORLD MISSIONS REACHING THE WORLD TOGETHER
Your generosity is building stories of hope and transformation across the globe. Through these incredible missionaries and ministries, City First Church is sharing the love of Jesus, meeting needs, and expanding God’s Kingdom—one nation, one story at a time.
CITY FIRST GLOBAL MISSIONARIES
CONVOY OF HOPE
is a faith-based humanitarian organization bringing help and hope to people in need around the world in Jesus’ name.
639K+
CHILDREN FED ACROSS 39 COUNTRIES
245K WOMEN AND GIRLS EMPOWERED SINCE 2010 ACROSS 29 COUNTRIES
189K+
INDIVIDUALS TRAINED IN AGRICULTURE ACROSS 25 COUNTRIES
17.9M+
LBS OF RESOURCES DISTRIBUTED SINCE 1994
ZOE INTERNATIONAL
rescues children, restores lives, and prevents human trafficking worldwide.
11,185 REACHED THROUGH OUTREACHES IN THAILAND
1,417 RECEIVED CHRIST IN THAILAND
59,399 REACHED THROUGH OUTREACHES IN MEXICO
1,800 ATTENDED EVENTS IN JAPAN 17K+ EDUCATED ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE USA
CITY FIRST LEADERSHIP COLLEGE
CELEBRATING 32 YEARS OF MINISTRY!
One of the greatest investments we can make is to train and equip young leaders to change the world for Christ.
Since 1993, City First Church has been training up world changers!
1,557
students have graduated from City First Leadership College and are making a difference for Jesus around the globe!
Since graduating from City First Leadership College we’ve gone into the mission field in Ecuador. We’re focusing on establishing and growing the Church amongst people and places that do not have gospel access. This includes men in incarceration, those disabled or with a special need, and diaspora peoples, specifically from the Middle East. Our time in Rockford positioned us to be able to live out God’s calling and purpose on our lives. We are forever grateful for City First Leadership College.
JOSH & KARRI WOOLLEY - CFLC ALUMNI 06’ 07’ AND MISSIONARIES TO ECUADOR
VISION 2026
TOGETHER, WE’RE NOT JUST BUILDING A CHURCH; WE’RE MAKING HEAVEN MORE CROWDED—ONE STORY AT A TIME.
VISION 2026: MISSIONS
20% MORE SCHOOLS REACHED IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES
20% INCREASE IN FOOD DISTRIBUTED TO REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY INCREASED GIVING TO WORLD MISSIONS—REACHING NEW NATIONS AND STRENGTHENING OUR GLOBAL PARTNERS BECAUSE EVERY SOUL
VISION 2026: SPRING CREEK
WHEN WE GIVE, WE MULTIPLY THE MISSION --CREATING NEW SPACES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIVES TO BE CHANGED.
