The New City Church in Phoenix exceeded its goal for the “100K in 30 Days” fundraiser that ended March 16, a campaign that provided funding for them to move to a new location in downtown Phoenix from its current home in midtown.
Brian Kruckenberg, the lead pastor at New City Church, said the vision of the new space is consistent with what the leaders of the church have been talking about since its beginning.
He said that moving locations “just made sense.”
“We don’t own that (original) location, we lease it, and our lease was expiring at the end of this year … we weren’t guaranteed the property,” Kruckenberg said.
The move will happen in December at the earliest, because the space requires an “extensive remodel,” Kruckenberg said.
New City Church is a nondenominational Christian church that has been a part of Phoenix for three years. Currently located next to Central High School in midtown Phoenix, the church has partnered with the school and impacted the neighborhood.
Oye Waddell, the church’s associate pastor, said churches often get pushed to the outskirts of a town. But with the new location, he said New City’s ministry will be able to stay in downtown Phoenix.
“They won’t be able to move us,” Waddell said.
Kruckenberg said another reason the church wanted the new location is because they are running out of room in their current home. The new location will offer them some longterm security.
“We really want to plant other churches, but we need stability,” Kruckenberg said.
Although Kruckenberg said the church didn’t necessarily want to leave its current location, he views the move as an opportunity for New City.
The campaign to raise the funds for the land began when Kruckenberg and the New City Church team learned they had to invest a non-refundable deposit of $125,000 after 45 days of signing the contract.
The strategy to raise money from church members was “showing them the vision for the location and how it fits with our vision for the church,” Kruckenberg said.
Amy Pantea, a member of the church, said she supported raising money for the new location, even though it seemed like a daunting task.
“I was really excited,” she said. “It seemed like it wasn’t an achievable goal. I was doubtful, but it’s amazing.”
Kruckenberg said the church has a vision of reaching four particular groups of people: the under-resourced, college students, artists and young professionals. These people can only be reached if the church remains in downtown Phoenix, Kruckenberg said.
“Once you’re in a location and committed to a location you start to reach your neighbors and community, then the reason to stay becomes, well, we are a part of this community,” Kruckenberg said. “We want to be there serving people, loving people, encouraging and training people.”
Their main concern, apart from money, is keeping the church accessible to Central High School students. While it will no longer be next door to the high school, the new church will be near the McDowell Road light rail station — about two miles from its current location.
“If anything, it’s more accessible,” Pantea said.
In the new location, the community can expect a gathering space for children, a large group worship center for about 600 people, a bigger lobby with a coffee bar, a gallery and a recording studio.
Contact the reporter at klwater1@asu.edu
