Learn about the gospel opportunity in our city in 90 seconds.
A MISSIONARY CHURCH FOR A TRANSIENT CITY
San Francisco is a beautiful city, home to almost 850,000 people. And yet it is increasingly difficult to make one’s home here: expensive and transient, with few long-term residents and a high rate of homelessness.
Over the past five years, God has uniquely positioned Citizens to be a missionary church that reaches both those lacking physical homes and spiritual homes.
A CHURCH FOR THE PHYSICALLY HOMELESS
In a city infamous for widespread homelessness, Citizens has been able to patiently serve hundreds of friends who live outside. A few have been baptized and can be found on Sunday mornings welcoming new people or serving communion.
Every Tuesday, rain or shine, Citizens holds a pancake picnic in Golden Gate Park. Over conversation and coffee, we share interests, stories, and questions together. Our church is able to build genuine friendships with people who live outside, so that by the time they come on Sundays, they come as peers. And when they stick around, we have a discipleship path tailored to their unique needs and challenges.
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After experiencing several years of being unhoused, struggling with mental illness, and wrestling with substance use, Annette walked into a Citizens gathering one Sunday morning, attracted by the music. She kept coming back, and as sermons started to resonate and Annette began to feel known and loved by our church community, she started to ask more questions about faith. At Citizens, Annette found that she was treated as a person to be seen, heard, and embraced. Amidst a spiritual journey where hope and doubt intermingled, Annette was baptized and is finding belonging.
"I’m creating a narrative for my life and when it’s centered on God it makes my life important and beautiful. There are things that I can do that I take for granted, and those things can help my community. Receiving God’s love through the church has been so healing, and given me hope and a way of life that fulfills me and gives me joy and peace." - Annette
A CHURCH FOR THE SPIRITUALLY HOMELESS
San Francisco is the most unchurched city in the country, where fewer than 3 in 100 know Jesus. For those displaced, disoriented, and questioning, Citizens has become a spiritual home, equipping them to be disciples who have cultural and gospel impact even beyond their time in San Francisco.
Outside of a relationship with the church, the Christian faith makes no sense in San Francisco. Work, politics, sex are all experienced and understood without regard to eternal reality. Through simple rhythms of worship, deep teaching, and intimate community, Citizens has helped many people over the years rediscover—or discover for the first time—the truth, goodness, and beauty of the biblical story.
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“I think one of my favorite things about Citizens is the laser-sharp focus on discipleship and transformation/love of the city. I love worshiping in the park, in a school with the heater off, sitting in folding chairs, or even when our tech equipment spazzes out - because if we come looking for anything but the presence of the spirit and living water, we will be unsatisfied. We won’t be left with the consolation prize of a full band concert with fog machines or quotes from the pulpit designed for an instagram sound-bite that lacks truth. I love this church because it is a people, not an organization or building.” - Sam
