“WE BELIEVE GOD HAS CALLED US TO BE A THRIVING CHURCH IN THE HEART OF OUR NATION’S CAPITAL THAT UNAPOLOGETICALLY PROCLAIMS THE GOSPEL AND BOLDLY MAKES
DISCIPLES WHO ARE BEING TRANSFORMED TO LOVE, THINK, AND ACT LIKE JESUS.“
-Pastor aaron graham
April culminates an incredible two-year season we have been in as a church called Multiply!
In this eighth and final quarterly update we wanted to look back and CELEBRATE all that God has done. God has truly done beyond what we could have asked or imagined!
For example, on Easter we celebrated 28 people who were baptized and over 30 who made decisions to commit their lives to Jesus!
Each of the stories we are celebrating this month are the result of big sacrifices that have been made by so many of you who have given sacrificially. Many of you have gotten second jobs, postponed home renovations, put off vacations, decided to live with family, or taken a promotion in order to have more resources to invest in our church’s vision to Multiply. THANK YOU!
We have heard so many testimonies over these last two years of what God has done IN us in this season. I hope you will go back
Two years ago God called us into a new season as a church - a season of trusting that He can multiply our influence as we better disciple the hearts of our people and more boldly advance our mission as a church.
Primary Goal
100% ENGAGEMENT
The invitation for everyone who calls The District Church home to engage our hearts fully as we live out the truth that God is first in all things.
secondary Goal
MISSION ADVANCEMENT - $11M INITIAL GOAL APRIL 2022
To provide the necessary resources to Multiply Our Mission, Multiply Our Locations, and Multiply Our Generosity.
NEXT LEVEL WORSHIP:
In what areas of my life is God leading me to move away from the pursuit of my own comfort and toward deeper surrender to Him?
NEXT LEVEL SERVICE:
In what ways do I come alive in ways that meet a felt need in my church or community?
NEXT LEVEL COMMUNITY:
What intentional steps can I take to build more Christcentered community in my life?
NEXT LEVEL GENEROSITY:
What new level of generosity can begin to express my gratitude for what God has done for me?
Wgoogled, we visited several places and then I found The District Church and something just kept drawing us back. There was just a comfort, there was a hunger for God and there was also a hunger to impact the city that we felt drawn to as well. I've been looking for ways to get involved in DC more and The District Church has a fabulous platform for doing that.
When we got to DC, we didn't know but we were expecting our second child. It was very exciting when we found out, but also very nerve-wracking because I was in a completely new city. I didn't know anyone. I couldn't go up to the first person and be like, “Hello my name is Christabel, I had a high-risk pregnancy for my first one, who should I consult to be my OB or what should I do?” I really wanted to go to an OBGYN tha my scans, take up my case and say, “we are going to make sure you have
hen we came to DC, we searched, we looked, we a safe delivery.” And God did it. Everything went smoothly, they went in, got the baby. The OB was surprised, everybody was surprised, they said “You guys are really lucky.” But we knew that God was with us.
It would have been more difficult going through this if we were not at The District Church. Because it was a safe space, it was a safe community. I could worship, I could pray through my fears and my anxieties, and it was encouraging. I knew that people were praying for me. I knew that they were with me. We just thank God.
“We look at generosity in a perspective that in the end, everything we've got is given to us by God. “
Whatever we have been given, giving back to the church, in this case through Multiply, almost seems like a given. You are just a custodian of what God has given you, and if God needs it in the church to bless other people, fine! God is doing something amazing in this church. It's obvious. It's palpable. To be able to come together to have such a grand goal for $11 million in two years and all these ministry opportunities, we couldn't just stand by and watch that. We had to be a part of that. The God we serve is a God of abundance. It's not a zero-sum game. God is able to provide funds for finding a permanent location in DC, whilst at the same time supporting the church to multiply our support for our partners. God sometimes meets needs in various ways that we may not even imagine.
Because the ways of God are not our ways. He would definitely do something that would surprise us because that's what God does.
-Nana & Christabel Sefa Life Group Leaders
Total given away since April 2022: PLANT CHURCHES · ALLEVIATE POVERTY
$ 1,823,435
Samaritan Inns provided
Kiara and her daughter with family counseling improving her parenting skills and strengthening her bond with her daughter. Kiara regained her sense of self and gratitude for the program, learning to love life again.
Food for the Hungry improved
the water system in Xolcuay, Guatemala's Ixil region benefitted 175 families with no home water access. Project included a 3x3m concrete tank and pipe system installation, enhancing health and living conditions for vulnerable community members.
We supported their "Road to School" program in Burundi, providing two daily meals for 143 street children to improve their health, concentration, quality of life, and self-efficacy.
(Remainder of $2M will be committed In May 2024)Prevention
Communities for Families
Program served 180 families, impacting 240 children
*25 of those families were teen parents in foster care (ages 18-21)
Through the FCS Program served 28 families, impacting over 28 children. Organizations supported with grants 35 Families blessed through benevolence 31
In partnership with Compassion International we were able to help plant a new church Nueva Vida in Sucre, Colombia. Dollars given through Multiply went to fully fund building the church, a child development center, and supporting Pastor Julio and his family. We also hosted a Compassion Sunday on February 4th where members of our congregation stepped up to sponsor all 138 children in need in this community for years to come!
Our Sunday Service attendance rose by over 80% during Multiply, and we welcomed hundreds at our quarterly worship nights.
Expanded ministry with an Outside Prayer Team and Friday Morning Prayer to reach more people and spread love. We had record engagement in 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting each January.
We offer reduced-fee counseling to those facing financial hardships. Over 400 sessions in 2023 were provided through benevolence counseling.
People have gone through Rooted 262
We disciple an average of 70 children weekly. Allowing them to learn about God in safe, fun, and age-appropriate way. We successfully launched the rebrand of Kids City to District Kids, renewing our commitment to partnering with you in raising a generation that loves, thinks, and acts like Jesus.
Every Sunday night, middle and high schoolers come together for vibrant Christ-centered community, worship, and prayer in youth Life Groups. Our dedicated team of 19 volunteers, committed to serving as Life Group leaders and mentors.
Students have participated in two service events. Helping an Urban farm in SE DC, combating hunger, and partnered with Homes Not Borders to assist refugee families in finding and furnishing homes in the DMV. Our Volunteer team prioritizes relational discipleship, meeting students for coffee or lunch, providing encouragement and discipleship.
Through God's providence we've established a partnership with National Baptist Memorial Church, securing a new permanent home in DC, where our community can continue to thrive and grow in faith!
“I HONESTLY FEEL LIKE, AS A CHURCH, MULTIPLY WAS THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING, THE BIRTH OF SOMETHING, AND THERE IS MORE TO COME.
IT PULLED PEOPLE IN. IT ENCOURAGED THEM TO FIND COMMUNITY, LIKE ME, OR TO BE GENEROUS, TO BE 100% ENGAGED.
WHEN YOU HAVE A CHURCH FULL OF PEOPLE WHO ARE 100% ENGAGED, THAT IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING REALLY COOL. IT’S NOT THE END.”
-DeEtta CravensWe worship Christ through our consistent and sacrificial generosity! Our two goals in this season of Multiply:
1) 100% Engagement and 2) Mission Advancement
100% ENGAGEMENT
1,124 households giving to Multiply April 2022 - April 2024
MISSION ADVANCEMENT
MULTIPLY OUR MISSION, LOCATIONS, GENEROSITY
Total Committed & Expected: $13,714,668
Total Given to date: $11,377,280 (as of 4/9/24)
Beginning May 1st we will transition from our “Multiply-All Giving” fund to our “District Giving” fund. This continues our One Fund approach we began in Multiply where everything given to District Giving will go to advance our entire mission of making disciples to impact our city for Christ. This includes all of our outreach ministries. We will continue providing you with regular updates and will continue discipling one another to live generous lives.
If you have questions regarding your giving, contact Clara Debnam, Clara@districtchurch.org or (202) 558-9745
Set up your recurring giving at DistrictChurch.org/Give
