our church

Our new church is a place where people who live in million-dollar condos rub shoulders with families from low-income housing. It’s a place where an African-American woman with three children, a Columbian-American man born and bred near downtown L.A., and a just-married Asian-American yuppie are huddled in prayer. It’s a place where whether you’re addicted to pride and greed or alcohol and drugs, you can find mercy, grace and forgiveness. It’s a congregation comprised of people who would never have become friends if not for their love for Jesus.

Aric and I joined a team of praying people envisioning a church like this late last year. Even as we prayed for such a church, I was skeptical. Can this really happen? Isn’t Sunday called this country’s most segregated day of the week for a good reason?

Then came our Easter launch service. As people began streaming in, I couldn’t help but stare at their beautiful faces. A Latino single mom, a Caucasian artist from down the street, an African American man who hadn’t been to a church for 10 years but liked the idea of a non-traditional service. Attorneys, military veterans, musicians, businessmen.

I had begrudgingly taken on the role of ordering and serving brunch for the congregation. As people enjoyed conversations over omelet sandwiches from a Cuban bakery, sitting around lilies I had bought from a street vendor in my neighborhood, I felt a rush of thankfulness for this opportunity to serve.

New City Church of Los Angeles. It’s a name that came to Aric’s mind when he woke up one morning. He turned to me and said, how about “New City Church?” Mind you, he’s pretty groggy and grumpy right when he wakes up. It’s pretty cute. On this particular morning, however, he was completely awake. The name signifies new beginnings in downtown L.A. and alludes to the New Jerusalem in the book of Revelation.

Aric, intern at the church, will be giving his first sermon on April 13. Stay tuned.

Our lovely venue: a chic restaurant in downtown's art district.

We put our kids to work... :)

Yummy brunch beforehand.



Cutie pies.

Our worship team.


Our cool pastor on cool-lookin' drums.

Boo reading the story behind the hymn "Because He Lives."


Aric before reading the Easter story.

Meanwhile, kid's church is next door at Blue Dahlia coffee shop.

Our mission statement hammered out by core team members last winter.

Small group time.

For an L.A. Times article on our church, click here.
New City Church of L.A. Web site here.
Aric's Blog here.