The Crete Collective

For 2023, we continued in our mission to plant churches in neglected and vulnerable black and brown neighborhoods. In 2023, we were able to achieve the following:1.We continued providing funding for our supported church plants:Update on the 2020 CohortIn 2020, we selected three church plants for funding support:Christ the Redeemer (Pine Bluff, AR)Acts Church (Yonkers, NY)Bluegrass Community Church (Lexington, KY)In the summer of 2022, we completed our first 2-year MOU with these plants and began new 2-year commitments for 2022-24. Acts Church and Christ the Redeemer continued as local congregations hosting public services and serving their communities.Update on the 2021 CohortIn 2021, we selected four new church plants for funding support:Congress Heights Community Church (Washington, DC)Identity Church (Daytona, FL)The Light (West Palm Beach)The West (Houston, TX)These plants completed their initial two years of funding on June 30, 2023. They began their second 2-year MOU in July 2023.After nearly two years of planning and organizing, The Light launched its first public services and constituted as a local church in April 2023.In November 2023, Congress Heights Community Church ceased to meet as a church. Their MOU was terminated.Update on the 2022 CohortIn 2022, we selected three new church plants for funding support:Redeeming Grace (Anaheim, CA)Sojourn Southside (Houston, TX)The Way (Tampa, FL)Each of these churches continues to meet publicly and to serve their communities in a variety of ways. Both Sojourn Southside and The Way received awards from community organizations for their local service.Funding SabbaticalIn 2023, the board of The Crete Collective unanimously approved a one-year sabbatical on funding any new church plants.In 2023, our total number of funded church plants reached ten (10). We had one church cease to exist, Congress Heights Community Church, bringing the total back to nine (9).2.Church Planter Training and Coaching:In 2023, we continued a regular program of training and providing coaching calls with our funded church planters and aspiring planters. We held monthly training calls with an average of 15 church planters and aspiring church planters. Among these, we provide additional coaching to approximately five (5) pastors.Training and coaching cover a range of ministry and leadership issues, including preaching, evangelism, pastoral care, church management, and community engagement. Planters can schedule individual coaching meetings as needed to help transfer training and teaching to their context.3.In-Person GatheringsIn 2023, we hosted two in-person training meetings. In May 2023, we held a 2.5 day gathering of church planters and their wives in Atlanta, GA. Planters shared updates, learned from Atlanta-area pastors and leaders, and developed skill in exegeting their communities.In October 2023, we held our second national gathering of The Crete Collective in Washington, DC. Nearly 100 persons from both member churches and church plants attended. The meeting featured teaching from Crete Collective members, subject matter experts, and opportunities for networking and relationship building.4.Fundraising:We continued our efforts to raise funds for planting churches in neglected and vulnerable black and brown neighborhoods. In 2023, we raised approximately $329,000 from individuals and supporting churches.5.Board and Network DevelopmentWe added a new board member in 2023, retired Atlanta-based businessperson, Mr. Chet Talley.We also expanded the network with three new member churches:Alhambra Beloved Community (Phoenix, AZ)New Light (Seattle, WA)Roosevelt Community Church (Phoenix, AZ)