"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain." – 1 Corinthians 15:10
1. We are a God-glorifying, Christ (Gospel) centered, Spirit-empowered, Bible-dependent family of God, centered on knowing Christ and making Him known (mission statement)
a. At the heart of our mission is our name: Center City Church. Our center as a church isn’t our leaders, a church location, or even a people, but rather a person, Jesus who sits at the center of the universe He created. [For the Lamb in the midst of (center of) the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:17]
b. We added “City” to the name, not only because we are generally located in mid-metro San Diego, but also because we want our church to impact this city and many other cities around the globe with the good news of Jesus.
2. We are an elder-led, congregational church that God has brought together through clear supernatural connections and years of wrestling and praying through those convictions.
3. Currently, we have 43 members who have gone through a three-part membership class, which finishes with an interview by the elders and members. Each of these members was voted on and accepted into covenant membership with Center City Church by the existing members of the church.
4. Currently, we have two elders/pastors: G’Joe Joseph and James Lecheler. They are responsible for teaching, leading, and caring for the church. They have gone through a two-year residency by Bethlehem Baptist, assessed, trained, interviewed, recommended, and approved to pastor this church. Before that, they had served as elders in their respective churches. G’Joe has been in ministry for over 25 years in a full-time capacity.
a. Along with Bethlehem Baptist Church and Redeemer Church, the Treasuring Christ Together network (TCT) and Southern Baptist Convention/SEND Network (SBC) have also assessed, approved, blessed, and supported both James and G’Joe in this gospel work.
5. Currently, we have four deacons: Aimee Joseph, Kyle VanDillen, Scott Purser, and Cindy Purser. They are responsible for being lead servants in particular ministries as well as helping the church identify and meet practical needs. Deacons are decided on by the elders, with input from members, based on the ways members are already leading and serving; the title is not something that necessarily should change pre-existing behavior.
6. Our constitution and bylaws outline our statement of faith and how our church is governed as an Elder-Led Congregational Church.
7. Theologically, the scriptures and gospel of grace guide our thinking and living. Our doctrinal position is summarized through our “Elder Affirmation of Faith (EAF).”
a. A secondary, yet significant, document that all members adhere to is our “Relational Commitments” which is a document describing how we are to live and interact with each other in light of the gospel and scripture. This defines what a gospel community is and how a gospel community operates.
b. Our strategy is built around three main realities seen in the growth of the New Testament church - the making, the maturing, and the multiplying of Christ’s followers. In other words, we evangelize the lost, disciple and train the saints, and equip and send out leaders for the work of ministry.
c. We have believers and unbelievers in our midst, even on Sundays. By God’s grace, we have seen the conversion of many to God or coming back into close relationship with God. By God’s grace, we have baptized 12 new believers. In 2024, we averaged 100-110 total people, including kids, at our Sunday service.
d. We currently have five community groups where we want to know one another and be known.
e. We value training the next generation so we have young ministers work as residents on our staff. Here too, we don’t see the training of the next generation to be the role of just pastors, but what God does through the family of believers.
f. We are an “outward-facing family,” meaning as a family, we seek to grow deeply in the grace of God and serve together to see many outside the church come into the family of God.
8. We seek to grow towards our 10 Dimensions of a Healthy Church. As a 2.5 year old church plant, not all these dimensions are on display in full effect. Yet, like an acorn has the elements of an entire tree, so too do our dimensions show off our philosophy of ministry and areas we are trusting God to grow and strengthen.
In light of who we are by God’s grace and His work to get us to where we are now, here are a few “non-negotiables” that we want to make clear on the front-end:
1. Our name will continue to be Center City Church as this embodies our vision, mission, and greatest value of Christ on the center of His throne.
2. We will continue to be an elder-led congregation with G’Joe and James as the elders. If and when the LORD brings another potential elder to our congregation, we will take our time within a thorough process.
3. We will continue to hold membership in high priority and have everyone who’s interested in membership go through our membership process. This process includes attending classes with additional reading and an interview with a current member and one of the elders.
4. We will continue to hold to our EAF and Relational Commitments as a guide in all of life as a church.
5. We will continue to be connected to the TCT network and SBC until God redirects us.
6. We will continue to be an outward-facing family with Sunday worship being focused on seeing, displaying, and praising all of Christ!
Updated as of July 2, 2024
a. At the heart of our mission is our name: Center City Church. Our center as a church isn’t our leaders, a church location, or even a people, but rather a person, Jesus who sits at the center of the universe He created. [For the Lamb in the midst of (center of) the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:17]
b. We added “City” to the name, not only because we are generally located in mid-metro San Diego, but also because we want our church to impact this city and many other cities around the globe with the good news of Jesus.
2. We are an elder-led, congregational church that God has brought together through clear supernatural connections and years of wrestling and praying through those convictions.
3. Currently, we have 43 members who have gone through a three-part membership class, which finishes with an interview by the elders and members. Each of these members was voted on and accepted into covenant membership with Center City Church by the existing members of the church.
4. Currently, we have two elders/pastors: G’Joe Joseph and James Lecheler. They are responsible for teaching, leading, and caring for the church. They have gone through a two-year residency by Bethlehem Baptist, assessed, trained, interviewed, recommended, and approved to pastor this church. Before that, they had served as elders in their respective churches. G’Joe has been in ministry for over 25 years in a full-time capacity.
a. Along with Bethlehem Baptist Church and Redeemer Church, the Treasuring Christ Together network (TCT) and Southern Baptist Convention/SEND Network (SBC) have also assessed, approved, blessed, and supported both James and G’Joe in this gospel work.
5. Currently, we have four deacons: Aimee Joseph, Kyle VanDillen, Scott Purser, and Cindy Purser. They are responsible for being lead servants in particular ministries as well as helping the church identify and meet practical needs. Deacons are decided on by the elders, with input from members, based on the ways members are already leading and serving; the title is not something that necessarily should change pre-existing behavior.
6. Our constitution and bylaws outline our statement of faith and how our church is governed as an Elder-Led Congregational Church.
7. Theologically, the scriptures and gospel of grace guide our thinking and living. Our doctrinal position is summarized through our “Elder Affirmation of Faith (EAF).”
a. A secondary, yet significant, document that all members adhere to is our “Relational Commitments” which is a document describing how we are to live and interact with each other in light of the gospel and scripture. This defines what a gospel community is and how a gospel community operates.
b. Our strategy is built around three main realities seen in the growth of the New Testament church - the making, the maturing, and the multiplying of Christ’s followers. In other words, we evangelize the lost, disciple and train the saints, and equip and send out leaders for the work of ministry.
c. We have believers and unbelievers in our midst, even on Sundays. By God’s grace, we have seen the conversion of many to God or coming back into close relationship with God. By God’s grace, we have baptized 12 new believers. In 2024, we averaged 100-110 total people, including kids, at our Sunday service.
d. We currently have five community groups where we want to know one another and be known.
e. We value training the next generation so we have young ministers work as residents on our staff. Here too, we don’t see the training of the next generation to be the role of just pastors, but what God does through the family of believers.
f. We are an “outward-facing family,” meaning as a family, we seek to grow deeply in the grace of God and serve together to see many outside the church come into the family of God.
8. We seek to grow towards our 10 Dimensions of a Healthy Church. As a 2.5 year old church plant, not all these dimensions are on display in full effect. Yet, like an acorn has the elements of an entire tree, so too do our dimensions show off our philosophy of ministry and areas we are trusting God to grow and strengthen.
In light of who we are by God’s grace and His work to get us to where we are now, here are a few “non-negotiables” that we want to make clear on the front-end:
1. Our name will continue to be Center City Church as this embodies our vision, mission, and greatest value of Christ on the center of His throne.
2. We will continue to be an elder-led congregation with G’Joe and James as the elders. If and when the LORD brings another potential elder to our congregation, we will take our time within a thorough process.
3. We will continue to hold membership in high priority and have everyone who’s interested in membership go through our membership process. This process includes attending classes with additional reading and an interview with a current member and one of the elders.
4. We will continue to hold to our EAF and Relational Commitments as a guide in all of life as a church.
5. We will continue to be connected to the TCT network and SBC until God redirects us.
6. We will continue to be an outward-facing family with Sunday worship being focused on seeing, displaying, and praising all of Christ!
Updated as of July 2, 2024