50
Strategic Cities
2027–2029
3-Year Plan
8
Regions
$55M
Investment
A three-year plan to strengthen the Church in 50 strategic cities, equipping local leaders to plant gospel-centered churches that reach more people and revitalize their cities.
In many cities, Christians are less than 2% of the population. People are facing suffering and searching for meaning without the hope of the gospel or support of a church community.
+1.7 Billion
more people will live in cities by 2050
~7 in 10
people worldwide will live in cities by 2050
~90%
of urban growth will occur in Africa and Asia
People need a church that can reach them.
Our response is city by city.
Align around a strategy for the city.
Provide training, coaching, tools, and resources.
Develop leaders and churches that multiply.
City to City equips local leaders to plant gospel-centered churches, work together across their city, and build the capacity for church planting to continue.
In each city, we work alongside local churches and leaders who are already there. Together, we assess the city's needs, develop a shared strategy, and build a church-planting engine to put that strategy into action.
“A vigorous and continuous approach to church planting is the only way to guarantee an increase in the number of believers and is one of the best ways to renew the whole body of Christ.”
Training: our flagship two-year Incubators and two-week Intensives equip church planters with gospel-centered theology, preaching, and practical tools.
Ongoing coaching: mentoring, practical guidance, and support as planters lead and develop churches.
Recruit and select: identify and select qualified church planters with local partners.
Citywide strategy and innovation: help local churches develop a shared strategy that combines proven methods with local insight.
Startup funding: short-term funding for essential launch costs, in partnership with local leaders.
Connect and coordinate: bring churches and leaders together across denominational and organizational lines.
Healthy churches that reach more people, leaders developing leaders, churches planting churches, and citywide networks. On average, a church-planting engine may produce 150-250 church leaders trained and coached and 8-10 churches planted or revitalized per year. Newer engines may start smaller and grow.
Deeply Rooted
Gospel-centered: Keeps the gospel at the heart of its teaching and life
Biblical and contextual: Is rooted in Scripture while speaking meaningfully to its local culture
Forms leaders and disciples: Helps people grow in faith and equips them to lead
Outwardly Engaged
Evangelistic and hospitable: Welcomes skeptics and helps people encounter Jesus
Loves and serves its city: Cares for neighbors and serves the needs of the wider community, including the poor
Multiplies: Develops and sends leaders to plant new churches
For 25 years, City to City has equipped local leaders and supported church plants in cities across its global network.
This next phase builds on that work, expanding a model that is already producing measurable results.
667
Churches planted, replanted, or revitalized in 202
19,471
Leaders Trained
39
Training Languages
Chicago, USA
When Pastor Melvin Howse unexpectedly inherited his father’s struggling church without formal training, he joined The Chicago Partnership's Church Leadership Cohort. The training and network provided encouragement, key ministry partnerships, and essential funding to repair their building. Today, Melvin and two of his leaders are actively revitalizing their church's legacy on the South Side of Chicago.
Relaunched in 2025 • 25 core members • 2 key leaders developed
Accra, Ghana
After noticing a lack of Christ-centered discipleship across Accra, Daniel felt called to plant a church. Through mentorship and City to City Africa's Church Planting Intensive in 2025, he experienced a mindset shift. Today, Daniel pastors Rock City Church, discipling 25 weekly attendees and celebrating 13 baptisms this year.
“Ministry is what I do, not who I am; I no longer seek validation through ministry success.”
Mbombela, South Africa
After completing the Gauteng Alliance Church Planting Residency and receiving a micro-grant, John Mangwiro returned to Mbombela to plant a gospel-centered church. What began as a small home gathering grew into four active communities across the city, with a core team of nearly 40 leaders preparing for the official launch.
4 active communities • 40 core members
100 cities. 10,000 churches. 10 years.
Building the capacity for church planting to continue.
We start with 50 cities in 2027–2029. Later phases will expand to additional cities while sustaining and strengthening the work already underway.
$55M Over Three Years
$15M
Annual Investment
$18M
Annual Investment
$22M
Annual Investment
20 Established Church-Planting Engines
30 Emerging Church-Planting Engines
