Welcome

Message From Our Lead Pastor

It’s hard to sum up all the amazing feats that God did through our ministry during 2023. Throughout this incredible year, I was reminded of His goodness and thankful for His guidance. Not only was I encouraged by the many stories of life transformation that were shared, but I was also excited to see the impact of The Next Chapter as we took major strides towards making our vision of The CARE Center a reality.

As we became more intentional about expanding our care for the community in a more robust way, we were simultaneously blessed to see God move throughout our ministry in incredible ways:

  • Over 3,000 people made decisions for Christ at our in-person and online services
  • Approximately 250 people were baptized—including 74 students
  • We connected with over 1,200 first-timers during our newly launched, monthly Friends & Family Weekends
  • We served 35,000 from the community with care and excellence, 90% of whom were nonmembers, at our annual Tri-County Fair

These are just a few examples of how your giving helps to change lives and makes an eternal difference. As you peruse this Annual Report, please know that I am thankful to co-labor with you in uniting people to God and people to people—and get ready for God to blow us away even more next year!

Our King Cometh!

David D. Ireland, Ph.D.

Lead Pastor

Our Mission, Vision & Values

Uniting People to God and People to People

Christ Church is a non-denominational Christian congregation of people from diverse racial, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. We are a community-minded congregation with a global sensitivity. Our members and volunteers continually seek ways to be God’s hands and feet—whether by feeding the homeless or providing disaster relief, we share the love and hope of Jesus worldwide.

Our Family

We witnessed over 3,000 people making a decision for Christ in 2023—which we could not have done without your generosity! Your praying, serving, and giving helps to make an eternal impact—and we never take for granted your big-heartedness in serving God's people.

We also welcomed over 200 new members into our church family through our Joining Our Church Family online course. As our family expands across our four campuses—Montclair, Rockaway, Clifton, and Online—we're so thankful to partner with you as we share the love and hope of Jesus.

Exploring Membership

3,039

Total Decisions For Christ

236

Total New Members

Serving Team Army

As the heartbeat of our ministry, we sincerely appreciate how our volunteers give of their time and share their gifts to serve God's people. As you check out the rest of this Annual Report, please take note of the incredible things that happen when people like Alysia (featured in the video above), and YOU, faithfully serve to advance His Kingdom!

Find Your Serving Team

1,348

Total Serving Team Members

566

Leadership Team Members

Water Baptism

In 2023, approximately 250 people took a big, faith-building step by making a public declaration of an inward change! During our Water Baptism Sundays in the spring and fall, we heard amazing testimonies of life-changing transformation. Stories of breakthroughs, overcoming addictions, healings, and miracles were on display for our entire CC Family to witness.

Your giving helps to make this possible, so it's with sincere gratitude we say:

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

God has healed me from depression and anxiety. He has helped me not be fearful and doubtful. He is my joy, my refuge, and fortress. My God in whom I trust!

Ariana Matias, Montclair Campus

Jesus has taught me to truly forgive both others and myself, and has allowed me to see his clear path for me that I wasn’t able to see before.

Krista Travis, Online Campus

At my darkest point, Jesus showed me compassion, love, and concern. He has given me strength, courage, peace, and joy. He has shown me how to love others, myself, and to not fear rejection or failure. He has taught me the Word and showed me how to apply it to my life.

Tahir Brown, Montclair Campus
Explore Water Baptism

248

Publicly Declared Their Faith

74

Students Baptized

The Next Chapter

In January 2023, our church officially began the Next Chapter—a bold, four-year movement to expand our care for the community. The main focus is The CARE Center, a 123,00-square foot space hosting some 20 justice-oriented, in-house and virtual programs such as the Legal Clinic, Food Pantry, Clothing Thrift Shop, and Multisensory Suite.

Through the 15-20 programs offered by The CARE Center, we'd be helping to build strong families and flourishing communities. We invite you to learn more and join The Next Chapter Movement via the link below!

Join the Movement

15-20 CARE Center Programs

Will Be Created or Scaled Up to Serve the Under-Resourced

Our Reach

We know that every single weekend is an opportunity for lives to be forever changed by the power of the cross, so we are filled with gratitude and joy when we think about the hundreds of volunteers that helped to facilitate transformative encounters with Jesus every weekend.

Weekend Experience

We were thrilled to see God impact so many lives through our love-fueled ministry in a variety of ways in 2023! Not only did we see a 57% increase in our in-person attendance from 2022 (thanks in part to COVID being more fully in our rearview), but our new Friends & Family monthly experiences proved to be a great way for us to connect with new people and families (see more in Friends & Family section below).

In-Person Experience

56.6% increase from 2022

Weekend In-Person Total Attendance in 2023

Our ministry expanded its global reach even more in 2023; through YouTube, Church Online Platform, and Facebook, we saw our CC Online Family grow in God and in community!

CC Online

156,750

Online Total Views 2023

152, 141

Online Total Views 2022

121

Countries Reached

50

States Reached

Friends & Family Weekend (Every 4th Sunday)

At the top of the year, we posed the question to our CC Family: What would happen if you became more intentional about sharing your CC experience?

As always, our CC Family responded, and the results were a testament to the big things God can do when you stretch a little outside of your comfort zone. Armed with your winning smile and attitude, plus fun graphics and videos from our Inviting Made Easy page, you invited, and guests poured in—especially every 4th Sunday of the month.

That led to us sharing the love and hope of Jesus through many facets of our worship-and-word experience—including serving them with care before service, a far-reaching message during service, and a fun time of fellowship afterward—complete with popcorn and treats!

We also established a “New Here?” station at each campus to connect with our first-time visitors, and we were blessed to distribute over 1,300 first-time gift bags to new faces who experienced CC because of your invite. Let’s continue to build our culture of inviting others who need to hear the gospel message!

1,313

Friends & Family Gift Bags to New Visitors

1,423

Friends & Family Connect Cards to New Visitors

Countries Reached Online

Countries Reached Highlighted in Color

Digital Reach

1,338

Church Online Platform Subscribers

26.70%

Increase from 2022

165,103

First-Time Website Visitors

3.50%

Increase from 2022

15,651

YouTube Subscribers

17.9%

Increase from 2022

20,101

Facebook Page Followers

75.40%

Increase from 2022

4,650

Instagram Followers

18%

Increase from 2022

1,565

Tik Tok Followers

2.9%

Increase from 2022

Online Bible Study & Corporate Prayer

At CC, ministry happens every day, which is evident when you look at the impact of our online midweek Bible study (Discovery Wednesday) and in-person/online quarterly prayer gatherings (Encounter with God). These ministry opportunities complement our Weekend Experience as ways for our CC Family to connect, learn, and grow.

11,485

Discovery Wednesday Total Views

2,873

Encounter with God In-Person Attendance

3,077

Encounter with God Total Views

Easter Weekend

Every Resurrection Sunday, we’re astounded at what God is able to do through our ministry, and extremely thankful that you help us serve so many new families, guests, and our faithful CC Family with care and excellence. Between our in-person and online services, we had approximately 7,000 people join us in celebrating our risen King, and approximately 300 people gave their hearts to Christ—AMAZING!

This unforgettable day also featured egg hunts, games, and prizes for our kids and teens, many of whom were part of new families that were experiencing CC for the very first time.

Including our 2-day Journey to the Cross experience during Holy Week, Good Friday, and our Easter services (online and in person) over 10,000 people were served because of your efforts—making it one of the most impactful Holy Weeks ever at CC!

297

Decisions for Christ (Holy Week & Easter; In Person and Online)

10,000

Holy Week & Easter Attendance (In Person and Online)

Quest Kids Easter

This Easter, the energy in Quest Kids was palpable as nearly 700 children (not including our egg hunt) filled our campuses, each one buzzing with excitement and anticipation. The joy spread even further beyond our walls with our Easter Jam Egg Hunt in Rockaway, where approximately 13,000 eggs were hidden, waiting to be discovered by eager little hands.

Meanwhile, at our Montclair and Clifton Campuses, over 400 Easter goodie bags were handed out—filled with treats and surprises!

Quest Teens Easter

Easter Sunday was nothing short of extraordinary for Quest Teens as we served nearly 300 teens across all campuses. And since we couldn’t wait to get the Easter fun started, we kicked things off the day before with an Extreme Easter Egg Hunt that had everyone on the edge of their seats.

With over 3,000 Easter eggs, gift cards, and prizes up for grabs, the competition was fierce—and the excitement was contagious. We were thrilled to welcome 102 teens to the event, marking a 60% increase from 2022. What was even more exciting was that approximately 39% of these teens were newcomers, experiencing Christ Church for the first time.

But the best part about both Quest events is that they served as on-ramps to our transformative ministry, and they were followed by invitations to join us for worship, another event, etc., and many families responded.

700

Easter Attendance for Kids

300

Easter Attendance for Teens

20,000

Eggs Given Away to Kids & Teens

Small Groups

Small Groups are the lifeblood of our church community, where friendships blossom into family connections. Seeing our Small Groups expand with more leaders, members, and gatherings than ever before is truly worth celebrating! It means people are deepening their faith, building meaningful relationships, and enjoying life together.

We’re inspired by the life-changing stories coming from our Small Groups. Check out the video above to hear one example of how Small Groups make a BIG difference in people’s lives. All glory to God!

Find Your Squad

1,932

Small Group Registrants

120

Total Small Groups

Quest Student Ministries

We’re thankful for how your generosity empowers the next generation! Through devotionals, Small Groups, Bible studies, events, and more, our Quest Kids, Teens, College Students, and Young Adults have been encouraged and equipped to step into their God-given potential, growing into future leaders.

It’s inspiring to see our Quest youth embracing opportunities to serve and grow through teen outreach initiatives. Meanwhile, our Quest College Internship program continues to provide college students with valuable career experience while fostering spiritual growth in a faith-filled environment.

Additionally, our Mobile Missionaries program supports two college missionaries each year, reaching students at Rutgers-Newark and William Paterson University. Their mission is to cultivate a vibrant Christian presence on campus while training students to share the love and hope of Jesus with their peers.

Explore Quest Ministries

22 Quest College Interns

Gained valuable career experience in a faith-filled environment

“I am not a Christian however I learned so much not only relating to my professional field but about professional etiquette, emotional intelligence, people skills, etc. My mentors have challenged me, answered all my questions, and helped me grow. Instead of just telling me what to do, they explained things to me and gave me the opportunity to try it for myself without intervention. This internship went above and beyond in providing me experience in my field. I learned not just about my field but about adjacent fields as well as general corporate policy and workplace etiquette. I feel great about the relationships I have made with peers, coworkers, other interns, etc.”

Anonymous

10,117

Total In-Person Attendance

186

Vacation Bible School Attendees

6,002

Total In-Person Attendance

4,815

Total Views (Weekly Online Devotional)

Care & Support

Our Pastoral Care Ministry remained dedicated to providing holistic support and spiritual guidance to the CC Family through prayer, the Healing School and Lay Counseling ministries, and other initiatives. Additionally, our Care Groups (such as GriefShare and DivorceCare) continued to be an extension of our Christ-like compassion and care to individuals facing emotional, mental, and physical challenges—all for the glory of Jesus!

Explore Pastoral Care

1,203

Total Prayer Requests

568

Total Care Groups Members

57

Total Chaplains

33

Praise Reports

5

Total Care Groups

122

Chaplaincy Attendees (Trainees)

15

Chaplaincy Attendees (Onboarded)

Ministry Opportunities

Prayerfest

A regional favorite, Prayerfest again drew thousands of people hungry to encounter God through worship, preaching, and powerful prayer sessions. Our heavenly Father showed up in a big way as always, and this transformative experience facilitated spiritual renewal and life-changing breakthroughs.

To prepare our hearts, we embarked on a six-week Prayer Journey leading up to Prayerfest 2023, building anticipation for a day that ministered to thousands across more than 40 countries!

Prayerfest Geographics

Countries Reached Highlighted in Color

See More on Prayerfest

87

Decisions for Christ

1,600

In-Person Attendees

9,226

Total Online Views

43

Countries Reached

Tri-County Fair

The Tri-County Fair returned in 2023 with remarkable energy and excitement! A record 35,000 families gathered at our Rockaway Campus to enjoy food, games, rides, and much more. We were thrilled to welcome many new families, creating meaningful opportunities to share and reflect Christ’s love through the way we served.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our 500+ volunteers who helped make this event a success through their incredible dedication and service!

See More on Tri-County Fair

35,000

People in Attendance

710

Faithful Volunteers

Outdoor Movie Night

Serving and connecting with the community remains central to our mission, making our Family Outdoor Movie Night a beloved tradition during Summer at CC. This event provides a relaxed and fun atmosphere where families can enjoy a free night out under the stars.

In addition to movie screenings, we offer campus tours, allowing guests to learn more about our ministry. Our serving teams shine brightly as they facilitate a memorable evening for hundreds of attendees.

1,400 Community Members

Gathered for Movie Night

Women's Conference

In March 2023, our CCWomen’s Ministry hosted a powerful conference titled Girl, Get Back Up, featuring our very own Dr. Marlinda Ireland, author/speaker Dr. Nicole Martin, and pastor/educator Dr. Jazmin Georges.

In an atmosphere charged with worship and prayer, 700 women from Christ Church and our surrounding communities, received practical strategies and spiritual encouragement to boldly pursue their God-given purpose— with courage and faith—and to always get back up!

When I think of the women’s conference all I have are tears of joy.

Women’s Conference Attendee
CCWomen's Ministry

700 Attendees at Girl, Get Back Up

Received practical strategies and spiritual encouragement

Elevate Family Conference

October 2023 marked the return of our Elevate Family Conference—featuring Elevate Marriage, Elevate Kids, and Elevate Teens—for the first time since 2021. This transformative 2-day event saw over 1,000 people in attendance—with over 200 making decisions for Christ!

The day was filled with powerful teaching, heartfelt discussions, spiritual reflection, and family-focused fun, leaving a lasting impact on all who participated.

See More on Elevate

700

Attended Elevate Marriage

226

Attended Elevate Teens

140

Attended Elevate Kids

Christmas Concert

Our 2023 Christmas Concert Miraculous captivated audiences with a blend of singing, dancing, original animation by our production team, acting, and other creative expressions. This cherished annual event continues to be much more than just entertainment—it is a ministry moment that brings people closer to Christ.

We were overjoyed to witness almost 200 people make decisions for Christ during the concert, encountering God through the beauty of artistic expression. God’s grace was evident in every area of our ministry throughout 2023, making it fitting to conclude the year on such a Miraculous note.

194

Decisions for Christ

4,388

Attended In Person

2,237

Total Online Views

Serving the Community

In 2023, serving our neighbors reached new heights. Through our Food Pantry's signature outreach initiative—Food for Hope—we distributed 36,000 pounds of food to 800 families, addressing critical needs in our local communities. Meeting the felt needs of the hundreds who gathered in Montclair and Rockaway underscored the crucial need for The Next Chapter of our ministry, while also fueling our excitement for how many lives God will impact through our expansion of CARE.

In addition to our large-scale outreach, our Food Pantry provided ongoing support throughout the year, serving approximately 90 households—impacting a total of about 300 individuals—with an average of 30 food requests each month. Our reach extended across six counties (Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, and Union) ensuring that vital resources were distributed to families in need throughout our region.

Explore Our Food Pantry

800

Food for Hope Boxes Distributed

36,000

Pounds Distributed at Food for Hope

1,600

Total Serving Hours for Food-Related Outreach

90

Households Assisted with Ongoing Support

CC Global Missions

Pastor David Ireland addressing the congregation in September 2023 while in Uganda. He and a small team of Christ Church leaders helped train over 800 pastors to become more effective leaders.

In Central America, we conducted two mission trips in August and September, focusing on leadership training for a network of 50 pastors and 20 additional ministry leaders. During these trips, we developed and translated multiple training manuals into Spanish to equip local leaders effectively. We also expanded our microloan program, distributing 21 new loans in 2023—primarily to single mothers—bringing the total number of loans given since the program's inception to 73. To date, over $34,000 in loans have been disbursed and repaid, fueling sustainable economic growth.

In Uganda, our teaching team led a Leadership Development Trip in September 2023, training over 800 pastors using the special African edition of the Answering the Call to Leadership manual. We also helped fund a Child Development Center serving 244 children, providing essential services such as medicine, food, and enhanced educational opportunities.

Through these efforts, we continue to empower leaders, strengthen communities, and create lasting change, reflecting our commitment to share hope and transform lives around the world.

Explore CC Global

800

Pastors Trained
(Uganda)

244

Children Impacted
(Child Development Center, Uganda)

61

New Businesses Launched
(Central America)

Financial Highlights

CC Leadership Team

Rev. David D. Ireland, Ph.D., Lead Pastor, Christ Church

Rev. Marlinda Ireland, D.Min., Worship & Creative Arts Pastor, Christ Church

Paul J. Barnish, MBA, President, WP Realty

Rev. Pierre du Plessis, Senior Pastor, The Father's House

Rev. Anthony Franklin, Montclair Campus Pastor, Christ Church

Erika Gerena, Consultant, Erika Gerena, Inc.

Rev. Ron Gonzalez, Counseling Pastor, Christ Church

Rev. Brian Jacks, CEO & Founder of WiConnect LLC

Jose Lastra, Chief Financial Officer, YMCA Of Montclair, NJ

Richard Nunes, Esq., Assistant Deputy Public Defender

Wunmi Osinubi, M.D., M.Sc., MBA, FRCA, Physician, Occupational & Environmental Health Associates, Inc.

Terry Trayvick, Founder & CEO, Level Five Management Consulting, LLC.

Executive Team

Rev. David D. Ireland, Ph.D., Lead Pastor

Rev. Marlinda Ireland, D.Min., Worship & Creative Arts Pastor

Natacha Clesca, MBA, Chief Financial Officer

Rev. Anthony Franklin, M.P.S., Montclair Campus Pastor

Rev. Ron Gonzalez, M.P.S., Counseling Pastor

Ray Velez, Chief Operating Officer

Pastoral Team

Rev. David D. Ireland, Ph.D., Lead Pastor

Rev. Marlinda Ireland, D.Min., Worship & Creative Arts Pastor

Marcus Bourbon, D.Min., Discipleship Pastor

Robert Castro, Discipleship Pastor

Ryan Faison, M.Div., Clifton Campus/Student Ministries Pastor

Anthony Franklin, M.P.S., Montclair Campus Pastor

Barbara Franklin, Montclair Campus Pastor

Willie Freeman, Counseling Pastor

Ron Gonzalez, M.P.S., Counseling Pastor

Marco Hernandez, MFA, Creative Arts Pastor

Brian Jacks, MTM, Marketplace Pastor

Lionel King, M.Div., Teaching Pastor

Thank You for Your Big-Heartedness!

Our mission is to unite people to God and people to people—and it’s your generosity that makes this possible. When you give to God through the church, you transform lives, strengthen families, and impact communities both locally and globally!

It’s an honor and privilege to co-labor with you as Jesus’ hands and feet on earth.

Drs. David & Marlinda Ireland

Founding Pastors