2025 Citylight Impact Report

Pastoral Letter

Citylight Church,

In Nehemiah chapter eight, the people of God gathered to learn the word of God. When they heard the word and understood its meaning, they rejoiced in the Lord.

They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading…And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. (Nehemiah 8:8, 12)

In 2025, the word of God made us rejoice together.

We rejoiced to hear the word in our new building after years of prayer, sacrifice, and preparation.
We rejoiced to welcome more first-time visitors to hear the word of God at church than any year in our history.
We rejoiced to see 23 people receive the word of the gospel with joy and be baptized.
We rejoiced to hold our largest services ever, with more people hearing the word of God than any year in our history.
We rejoiced as the Book of Daniel taught us that our God reigns in all circumstances.
We rejoiced to see our newest church plant, Citylight NYC, get established in a rental facility where the word of God is proclaimed each week.
We have rejoiced to commission the Knowles Family to join the growing number of families and individuals from Citylight Church who are taking the word of God to peoples and nations where Christ is less known.

As you look back on God's faithfulness to Citylight Church in 2025, I pray that the Lord will direct your hearts into the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ (2 Thess. 3:5). As you look ahead to 2026, please join me in prayer that Citylight Church will be strengthened in the faith, increase in numbers daily, and bear witness to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8; 16:5).

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Matt

2025 Stories

Center City Citygroup

One encouraging area of growth for Citylight Church in 2025 is in Center City.

When the year began, a Center City Citygroup was simply an item on one of our pastors' prayer cards. By the end of 2025, the Center City Citygroup not only started, it grew steadily into a thriving community of 30 men and women meeting regularly in a Logan Square apartment complex.

The Center City Citygroup started when two couples from our church sensed a call to lead the group together. Their willingness, humility, and partnership are a beautiful picture of godly leadership and joyful obedience. One couple even opened up the generous public-use space of their apartment complex for the group to meet each week. They often have visitors and guests stop by, curious about what's going on.

Through this group, young followers of Christ are being strengthened in the faith each week as they study God's word and experience life-giving fellowship. By God's grace, the Center City Citygroup is now preparing to replicate and become two Citygroups. Praise God for leaders who step forward in faith!

Baptism Story

When Jason Wallace first noticed Citylight's building, he wasn't regularly attending a Bible-believing church. As the construction project came to a close and we began gathering in our long-term home, Jason and his wife Jhennyffer began visiting Citylight's gatherings.

Week after week, God used the ordinary means of grace to draw Jason from death to new life in Christ. Here's an excerpt from his testimony:

"Citylight's commitment to biblical truth reflects my own desire to grow in faith and live according to God's Word. It's a place where I feel spiritually nourished, challenged, and supported."

Jason's growth soon bore visible fruit. In November, he publicly declared his faith in Christ through baptism, and began the process of becoming a member of the church. Jason and Jhennyffer were welcomed into covenant membership in January 2026.

Jason's story is a reminder of why we plant churches, invest in facilities, and give generously to the mission of making disciples. We praise God for what He has done in Jason's life!

2025 By the Numbers

154

First-time visitors

In the first few months in our new home, Citylight had the joy of welcoming many new faces into our worship services.

Citygroups gathering weekly

Every week hundreds of us gather in homes across the city to study Scripture, encourage one another, and serve our neighbors.

Baptisms

Citylight celebrates God's redemptive work in people's lives as they pursue baptism.

New members

The Citylight family has grown tremendously, as 67 people have formally committed to the church family through membership.

Financial Update

Thank you!

2025 has been an incredible year of faith-stretching generosity at Citylight Manayunk. Because of your partnership, we have established a gospel-presence on Main Street that continues to bear fruit for the Kingdom. Because of your generosity:

Over 800 people gathered for our Grand Opening service
Over 600 people regularly attend worship services
Grief Share was launched to minister to those experiencing loss
Over 100 people were trained in evangelism
Our Citygroups continue to multiply across the city

Below you'll see a very basic look at our planned income vs expenses for the past two fiscal years. Our fiscal years run from July through June so we are currently 50% through fiscal year 2025-26. We continue to be right on track to meet our expectations for this fiscal year.

We are putting down roots on Main St. and cannot wait to see what God has in store for us as we steward our new building for the glory of God and the advance of the gospel. We continue to fervently pray Acts 16:5, that we are strengthened in the faith and increase in numbers.

Thank you for modeling Christ and giving to the work of the gospel in Philadelphia. It's needed now more than ever.

In Christ,
Pastor Jon

	2024-25 Planned	2024-25 Actual	2025-26 Planned	2025-26 YTD Actual
Income	$2,087,150	$2,242,790	$1,125,000	$1,268,291
Expenses	$2,011,672	$1,718,679	$1,114,995	$975,565

	Income	Expenses
2024-25 Planned	$2,087,150	$2,011,672
2024-25 Actual	$2,242,790	$1,718,679
2025-26 Planned	$1,125,000	$1,114,995
2025-26 YTD Actual	$1,268,291	$975,565

YTD amounts through 6 months