journey, 2020 was
a year of
transformation
Looking back at the past year, we know that it was a year full of change due to the COVID-19 pandemic — but in the midst of that, we saw God move in ways that we never could have imagined. Thank you for making it happen; it was your faithful and consistent generosity that paved the way for lives to be changed — both in person and online.
2020 Highlights
- In March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we immediately pivoted to provide safe gathering experiences through our digital platforms (YouTube, Facebook, Yourjourney.tv). Online gatherings were viewed by 439 people in 2020, and 177,218 of those people put their faith in Jesus.
- Because of the challenges many of those in our community faced due to the pandemic, Code Red rose to action by providing over 8,000 Hope Totes and boxes of food and essentials to those in need. In addition, we helped countless Journeyers through Care and Prayer requests — and continue to meet needs daily.
- Through online J-Groups, our Journeyers were able to keep connecting, even in the midst of the pandemic. Our J-Groups pivoted to online at the end of the spring semester, and we even launched our first digital semester in the summer. Today, many online J-Groups are continuing to be created every semester, presenting an even greater opportunity to reach people and help others get connected, no matter their schedule or location!
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT GOD
HAS DONE THROUGH YOUR GIVING...
I’ve been in a very dark place for months now because of my job and where I am in my life. After my first time here, I really loved it because it’s so different from any other church I’ve been to. I’ve found myself listening to podcasts of previous messages to get me through the week. I’m really looking forward to continuing this journey.
— Amanda
NEWARK
first time faiths
1,169
HOCKESSIN
first time faiths
47
ONLINE
first time faiths
439
My roommate and I have been watching online. He hasn’t been to church in thirty years, but because of these gatherings, he now has a relationship with God.
— Alfred
BAPTISM WEEKEND
BAPTISMS
67
“Growing up, I was raised going to church and it was a routine for me. Even though I went to church every Sunday, I didn’t have a real relationship with God. It wasn’t until 2 years ago where I truly experienced God and who he is and gave my life to him. Baptism is something that I’ve always put off and it wasn’t until this fall that I wanted to get baptized. I wanted to bury my old life and be raised to begin a new changed life in Jesus!”
— Mark
EASTER AT
THE JOURNEY
53
FIRST-TIME FAITHS
CHRISTMAS AT
THE JOURNEY
34
FIRST-TIME FAITHS
408
NUMBER OF J-GROUPS
OFFERED THIS YEAR
2082
PEOPLE SIGNED UP
FOR A J-GROUP
John on leading an online J-Group called
Coffee, Comics, and Christ:
This group helps us to seek and find God in all things – even in Marvel comic books! We came together both physically, at the start of the semester, and virtually, when COVID-19 flared up. We are getting to know each other, ourselves and our God better through conversations about our lives, our favorite coffees, and through the books that we share. We take part in each other’s victories and encourage one another when going through tough times. In short, we are doing life together and it’s amazing!
FREEDOM J-GROUPS
Freedom helps you live the life that God has meant for you to live. As you read Scripture, discover the truth of God’s word, and work through every part of your past, you begin to grow closer to God and stronger in your faith.
When I first started Freedom, I was a woman who had not found her identity in Christ, but rather by the alcoholism and emotional abuse I had suffered as a child. In discovering that I may never get an apology for what had happened to me, I was set free. I finally released my parents to God. When I finished my Freedom J-Group, I left a changed woman. I am a woman who serves to please the Lord in all that I do, not man. I now strive to live kingdom-focused rather than shackled to the chains that brought me down. I am nothing. Jesus is everything.
— Abby
584
journeyers serving on the j-team
Whether at Newark, Hockessin, or serving online from anywhere, our J-Teamers are the heroes of our church. Each week, we’re passionately using our gifts to live out the purpose God has for us!
I had been relatively unchurched my whole life. I had no expectations when I came to The Journey for the first time because honestly, I had no plans to continue going. In the course of 50 minutes between the worship and the message, I remember feeling choked up. There were feelings coming to the surface that I preferred not to face. I remember thinking, “Well, perhaps it’s time to face them then.” So I continued to go.
I wanted the rest of the people out there who thought and felt like me to experience this gift that seemingly fell into my lap. I had done nothing to get myself to this wonderful church, yet here I am. I joined the Plugged In Team because I wanted to help others find where they fit in this community of faith. I’m on a team of amazing people who all just want to help others find their gifts and experience the joys we have been given here.
— Michael
166
NUMBER OF JOURNEYERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED PLUGGED IN
Serving in the midst of a pandemic
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to create new and unique ways for our J-Teamers to stay plugged into making a difference, even during the quarantine season.
CONNECTIONS
TEAM
In April, we launched our Connections Team with the purpose of texting and calling those in our church to encourage them, pray with them, and point them to a next step.
1,315
calls were made to journeyers in 2020
ONLINE HOST TEAM
& PRAYER TEAM
In March, we launched our Online Host Team and Online Prayer Team with the purpose of interacting with, praying with, connecting, and encouraging our online Journey family during our interactive gatherings.
43
J-Teamers serve as part of our online host & online prayer team
CODE RED
TEAM
When the pandemic hit, our Code Red Team immediately sought out needs within our region. We provided meals for families, packed and delivered food to people experiencing homelessness, and provided essential funding to our Code Red community partners.
1,000+
J-Teamers made an impact with Code Red in 2020
POTENTIAL LEADERSHIP INTENSIVE
Through Potential, a nine-month, hands-on leadership intensive, we help emerging leaders steward their potential and become everything God designed them to be. We partner with Highlands College to offer leaders top-quality ministry training, character formation, and spiritual development.
CLASS OF 2020
33
GRADUATES
Through Journey Kids, we partner with parents to help kids know God, love God, and live like He says — in person and online. Journey Kids is here to see lives changed as kids begin to take steps in their faith!
At the end of august,
Rick started gathering at The Journey with his son, Jayden. After a few months, Jayden heard an invitational prayer and approached his dad about it. Jayden said, “Dad I want to do that. I want to say that prayer to put my faith in Jesus.” Rick was just figuring this all out for himself and wasn’t sure how to walk him through that prayer. The next weekend, Rick brought Jayden to Journey Kids and asked one of the J-Teamers to help walk his son through that prayer. Our Journey Kids J-Team didn’t just help Jayden walk through that prayer, but they pulled Rick alongside the conversation so he would be equipped to be the spiritual leader for his son!
We love Journey Kids Online! My Olivia sings all of the songs, we discuss, go over the verse. We are so grateful. Thank you so much!”
— Alyssa
232
JOURNEY KIDS
FIRST-TIME GUESTS
46
JOURNEY KIDS
FIRST-TIME FAITHS
Journey Students exists to help students find Jesus and follow him fully. This happens through three environments: Converge (monthly students gathering), connecting in a J-Group, and serving on the J-Team.
Journey Students is more than just a cool student ministry — it’s a family. At its core, Journey Students is where young people can come and be accepted and loved, regardless of where they came from or what they look like. It has taught me how to be confident in the me God’s created me to be!
— Christina
84
JOURNEY STUDENTS
FIRST-TIME GUESTS
68
JOURNEY STUDENTS
FIRST-TIME FAITHS
143
AVERAGE CONVERGE
ATTENDANCE
86
RISE ONE
NIGHT ATTENDANCE
summer 2020 RESIDENTS
We are raising up a generation of empowering leaders who change the world for Jesus. As part of our Young Adult Summer Residency, young adults ages 18-25 explore a ministry calling through hands-on leadership development and mentoring from Journey staff and leaders.
12
SUMMER 2020 RESIDENTS
As a church, we give at least our first 10% of everything that’s given here, investing it back into the communities around us and globally to help meet needs we have identified.
over
$250,000
was given back to the community and around the world to make a difference
Code Red is all about helping those near us who need us. We mobilize ordinary people on a mission to change the world.
LOVE MONTH
Due to the increasing needs within our region throughout 2020, we extended our annual outreach to Love MONTH! Hundreds of Journeyers rolled up their sleeves to serve thousands outside our walls.
1,209
SERVING OPPORTUNITIES
440
J-TEAMERS
1,440+
HOURS SERVED
7,000+
FAMILIES SERVED
25+
DIFFERENT
ORGANIZATIONS
We strive to partner with existing organizations who are providing help and hope in our region.
1,000
BACKPACKS
DISTRIBUTED
145,000
POUNDS OF FOOD
DISTRIBUTED
HOPE TOTES
8,000+
Hope Totes and boxes of food distributed to families in need in 2020
Around the globe, we have partnered with multiple organizations to help identify the needs of women and children, schools, families, shut-ins, the elderly, and the local church.
Organizations we partnered with in 2020 through Code Red:
School Partners:
Christiana High School
Joseph McVey Elementary
Las Americas Aspira Academy
Anna P. Mote Elementary
Delaware School for the Deaf
Downie Elementary School
Brookside Elementary
Wilmington Christian School
Hunger/Homlessness:
The Paris Foundation in Elkton
Friendship House – Newark/Wilmington
Horizon House – Wilmington
Food Bank of Delaware
Planting to Feed
Sunday Breakfast Mission
Blessings of Hope
Wayfarer’s House
Recovery:
Firm Foundation
Attack Addiction
Banyan Treatment Center
Delaware Detox
Oxford House
Community Organizations:
Christiana Hospital
Bayada Healthcare
New Castle County Paramedics
New Castle County Police
Christiana Fire Department
Donate Delaware
University of Delaware
Urban Promise in Wilmington
Havre De Grace Police Department
Tim Tebow Foundation:
“Night to Shine”
The Rock Ministries
Hartford Memorial Hospital
Perryville Police Department
Perryville Fire Department
North East Police Department
Maryland State Police
Breathe 379
Reach Riverside
Teen Warehouse
Churches:
Epiphany Church – Wilmington
New City Church – Wilmington
Newark Church of Christ – Newark
Living Grace Worship Cathedral – Middletown
Lighthouse Baptist Church – Newark
Accelerate Church – Camden, NJ
Willowdale Chapel – Pennsylvania
Luminous City Church – San Diego, CA
Missions Organizations:
Thirst Missions – missions team to Belize in February to help build a kitchen for church food program
LA Dream Center – missions team to Los Angeles to help with community food programming and distribution
Mid India Church Partners – helped plant 11 churches in India
Praying Pelican Missions
Convoy of Hope – helped provide over 150 million meals worldwide
Highlands College
2020
BUDGET
TOTAL BUDGET
$ 2,653,790
MINISTRY
20%
$528,365
MANPOWER
40%
$1,062,500
MEETING SPACE
23%
$623,285
MISSIONS
10%
$262,500
MARGIN
7%
$177,140
We’ve already seen lives changed through providing online gatherings via YouTube, Facebook, and Yourjourney.tv since they began in March! Through first-time guests and first-time faiths, God is working in the lives of those in our online community.
There’s no better way to reach Journey City right now than digitally — We’re planning to launch a full online location in 2021, where people can gather, connect, and serve, taking next steps throughout our region.
online gatherings
were viewed by
177,218
PEOPLE IN 2020.
My girlfriend and I attended The Journey a little over a year ago. We both had attended church when we were younger, and neither of us had attended in a very long time, but we both felt the need to return and bring Jesus back into our lives. She found The Journey online and we both fell in love the first time. We have not been to a gathering physically since COVID-19 started, but we watch online regularly. Since day one, Pastor Mark has connected with us, especially for my girlfriend, in ways that we have never felt before when attending church. Our lives have changed for the better in so many ways because of his teachings and the gatherings. Thank you so much for everything you guys do.
— Erik
ONE CHURCH.
Multiple LOCATIONS.
There are 1.8 million people living within a 30-mile radius of our Newark location. We like to think of it as “Journey City” — it’s filled with our friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, teachers, bosses, and baristas. We want to see them all have a life-giving relationship with Jesus.
We have a dream to plant locations all across Journey City to help more people find Jesus and follow him fully. This dream goes beyond our buildings, because the church is more than that. Together, we’re putting a dent in the darkness — in person and online.
Facebook Followers
7,000+
INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS
2,800+
LAUNCHED OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL
2,600+
YOUTUBE SUBSCRIBERS
18,000+
AVERAGE MONTHLY VIEWS
I have been scouting out different churches and never felt like I fit in. I don’t know how to explain it, but after seeing the ad for The Journey on YouTube, something in me said that this is the church for me. So here I am. I am willing to take that leap of faith. I know that God never abandoned me.
— Tom
In 2020, you were generous in order to see more people find Jesus and follow him fully. All of this would not be possible without your giving, praying, and serving.
THANK YOU for helping us reach Journey City together!
Our mission is not done. There are still more people to reach and more lives to impact through YOU. The best is yet to come...