:: AIP#51: Why Focus on Downtown (And Are People Really Moving There for This)? ::

[Part 9 of 10 in answering some FAQ's about The City Church]

On the morning after several of us gathered to worship and pray over downtown Fort Worth, I'll answer the second part of this question first: are people really moving into downtown as part of the growing mission of The City Church? We're thrilled to say "yes!"

As Jess and I continue to pray about selling our home and moving closer to downtown, people have caught the vision for the area and have jumped ahead of us in the process:

• At least three "City folk" are now in homes just south of downtown, in the Fairmount/hospital district
• At least three more are considering apartments and condos in the W. 7th Street area (some with Apartment Life - shameless plug for one of our partner organizations).
  
• One of our folks has moved into an apartment just northeast of downtownA
• And just last week I learned that someone is in one of the condos just south of Sundance Square.
  

We are thrilled beyond belief to see the vision take off, and are excited to see what God continues to do these folks engage with their neighborhoods, and as they work, play, and live in this focus area of The City Church.

So why is The City Church focused on downtown Fort Worth?

First, Fort Worth is the fastest-growing large city in the U.S., and is slated to reach one million in population by the year 2030. Over 10,000 new living units are currently being built downtown, whose target audience of post-college single and young married professionals. Without even considering this growth, over 80,000 people live within three miles of downtown Fort Worth, with a minimal presence of evangelical, Bible-preaching churches. In addition, it puts us near the thriving arts culture and in close proximity to TCU, TWU, and TCC’s new Trinity River campus.

But downtown Fort Worth is a beautiful paradox of wealth/development vs. need/poverty, with many of the largest homeless and impoverished populations sitting on the edge of the new growth in downtown. And many non-profit ministries find their homes within a few miles of downtown. We have a perfect opportunity to teach and boldly live out God’s mission, and The City is excited to help meet the dire needs for both these populations, providing a strong, strategic, engaging, impacting church for the unique, diverse people.

That's why we're headed downtown: you can read more in our full prospectus here, but it's a huge mission field, and there are broken, hurting people who need the gospel, and who need to be restored to their Creator.

Next we'll wrap up this "FAQ" series: As we move into the fall, what are current needs?