unSeminary Podcast Summary

Episode: From 800 to 2,500: Growing a Multi-Ethnic Church with Limited Staff
Host: Rich Birch
Guest: Sarah Hooley, Executive Pastor, City Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Date: December 11, 2025

Overview of the Episode

This episode highlights the story of City Church, a rapidly growing, multi-ethnic church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, under the leadership of Chris Freeman and executive pastor Sarah Hooley. The core theme is how City Church navigated explosive growth—from 800 to over 2,500 attendees—while maintaining a focus on reaching unchurched people, building diversity, fostering deep discipleship, and equipping leaders within a highly constrained staffing model. Listeners get practical, frontline insights on multi-ethnic ministry, high-impact discipleship systems, and empowering the church body for ministry.

City Church Story and Growth Strategy

(02:55 – 06:41)

• Nine-Year Journey: City Church started as a portable church, setting up and tearing down weekly until purchasing a 60,000 sq ft former grocery store in 2020.
• Rapid Expansion: After developing 40,000 sq ft for church use, the church quickly outgrew the space, moving from two to three services as attendance skyrocketed.
• Intentional Diversity: From inception, City Church aimed to be multi-ethnic, multi-economic, and multi-generational, placing itself in Fort Wayne's most diverse neighborhood.
  • "Our neighborhood specifically is more 40% African American, 20% white, 20ish percent Hispanic... much more racially diverse." (03:18, Sarah)
• Evangelistic Focus: The majority of growth has not been from church transfers but from reaching people who've never attended church or have been far from faith.
• Tangible Fruit:
  • "We are on track to have 500 baptisms this year." (05:41, Sarah)
  • The rapid frequency of baptisms led to holding baptism services every six weeks.

Indicators of Reaching the Unchurched

(06:41 – 10:53)

• Cultural Clues: City Church’s reach into the unchurched is clear from the life transformation stories and casual language used by new attendees.
  • Memorable Quote: “Somebody posted on their Facebook page, 'City Church choir is better than the club. For real.' And I love it...We don’t have a choir. It’s our worship team. But they don’t even know the words.” (07:58, Sarah)
• No Assumptions in Preaching:
  • Chris Freeman and the team avoid assuming biblical knowledge in sermons, explaining foundational concepts and stories.
• Discipleship Starting from Zero:
  • “You just can’t assume anything. There’s no foundational understanding... like what some sins are.” (08:17, Sarah)
• Personalized Pathways: Recognize people are at a totally different spiritual starting point; more basics and relational discipleship are required.

What’s Working to Reach New People

(10:53 – 13:58)

• Relational Teaching Style: Rich, biblically faithful teaching that welcomes both seekers and seasoned believers.
• Diverse Worship: Multi-ethnic church means multi-genre worship that blends styles and preferences.
• Culture of Welcome:
  • Their Connections Director, Victoria, is a former unchurched attendee who models warm, authentic hospitality.
  • Volunteering as a first step: "You can join our greet team...even if not a believer. The hope is you’re rubbing shoulders with someone who is following Jesus." (13:10, Sarah)
• Community Ownership: Newcomers—even nonbelievers—invite their friends, drawn by the authentic energy and inclusivity.

Discipleship Systems for the Unchurched Majority

(13:58 – 20:20)

• Adapting Systems: Many discipleship programs assume high biblical literacy—an assumption City Church cannot make.
• Alpha Course: Used for those in the questioning phase who don’t yet feel ready for church.
• Targeted Discipleship Programs:
  • “Act Like Men” Course: 15 weeks, high accountability, meets at 6am.
    • High touch mentoring from older men, with a focus on discipline, integrity, and Jesus-centered masculinity.
    • Accountability: “If anyone is late, even five seconds, the whole group does pushups together.” (16:01, Sarah)
    • High expectations: $100 fee, three absences max, small group mentors, and scripture memorization.
    • Rapid growth: 60 participants the first time, 100 the next.
  • “Be Bold Women’s Course:” Launched in response to demand from women, includes unique lessons on emotions and community, plus a women’s conference as a kickoff.
    • "We had about 300 women at this conference. It was just a great start." (19:36, Sarah)
• Gendered Discipleship: Segregated groups foster deeper accountability and address unique challenges, but church culture is not 'overly machismo.'
  • "Being a true man is not the world's version of power and money... it's about humility, servanthood, and sacrifice." (21:32, Sarah)
• Inclusive Small/Mid Groups: Beyond gendered courses, mixed groups also thrive for broader connection.

Evidence of Transformation and Culture Shift

(24:06 – 26:19)

• Steady Growth as the Norm: "Discipleship is a long obedience in the same direction." (24:13, Sarah)
• From Excitement to Real Change: Members are moving beyond Sunday enthusiasm to authentic life transformation over time.

Staffing: Leading with a “Skeleton Crew”

(27:23 – 32:27)

• Unprecedented Ratios: City Church serves 2,500–2,600 attendees with only seven full-time staff (plus part-time support); this is 1:350—much leaner than industry best practice (1:75-100).
• Budget Constraints:
  • Serving a lower-income community means giving and budgeted staff size grow slowly.
• Equipping Philosophy:
  • Staff are chosen for their ability to equip others, not just do ministry.
  • Emphasis on “leaders of leaders”—volunteers empowered to oversee significant areas (e.g., 400 kids led by one full-time kids pastor with an associate; volunteer “leads” handle scheduling and administration).
  • Most staff are former attenders, not outside hires, ensuring strong buy-in and cultural fit.
• Distributed Ownership: Congregational involvement increases buy-in and retention.

Developing and Empowering Volunteer Leaders

(32:27 – 35:52)

• Leadership as Discipleship: Volunteer leaders must have a strong relationship with Jesus, a love for people, and basic organizational skills.
• Identifying Leaders: Look for passion, mission alignment, and willingness to take ownership.
• Onboarding Process: New leaders shadow existing ones; encouragement to try leadership before full commitment.
• Continuous Development: Staff regularly check in for support, problem-solving, and mutual feedback.

Maintaining a Volunteer-Focused Staff Culture

(35:52 – 39:22)

• Guarding Against Staff Entitlement:
  • Ongoing coaching, “calibrating conversations,” and clear messaging establish that ministry is for the whole church—not just credentialed staff.
• Emphasize Ephesians 4: “Our heart...is inviting the church to be the church. That priesthood of all believers—ministry is not just for those who have a degree or a title.” (37:32, Sarah)
• Staff Development Pipeline: High-performing volunteers often become excellent staff candidates in future as needs and budgets grow.
• Resist Over-Programming: Focus intently on doing fewer things well, ensuring capacity aligns with mission.

Ministry Mindset: Scarcity vs. Abundance

(39:22 – 43:42)

• Encouragement for Undersupported Leaders:
  • "First of all, say you're not alone...We're all doing the mission that God has called us to and there are challenges." (40:32, Sarah)
• “Loaves and Fishes” Mentality:
  • “If we can be faithful to say, 'Okay God, what do we have?', and use that for your glory...Jesus could do what the disciples could not.” (41:00, Sarah)
• Focus on Faithfulness:
  • Measure obedience, not just visible outcomes.
• Find Encouragement: Peer cohorts and networks are essential for support, prayer, and perspective.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Unchurched Culture:
  • “City Church choir is better than the club. For real.” (07:58, Facebook post read by Sarah)
• On Discipleship Realities:
  • “There's no foundational understanding... There's no even understanding of what some sins are.” (08:17, Sarah)
• On Leadership:
  • “We really do view leadership as discipleship.” (33:34, Sarah)
• On Gendered Courses:
  • “We are calling you to be godly men, not selfish boys.” (17:50, Sarah)
  • "Being a true man is not the world's version... it's about following Jesus' example." (21:32, Sarah)
• On Resourcing:
  • “If we can keep that ‘loaves and fishes’ mindset... God is so much greater than the most difficult person at your church, who is louder than all the others.” (42:32, Sarah)

Key Timestamps

• City Church origins and rapid growth: 02:55 – 06:41
• Evidence of unchurched impact: 06:41 – 10:53
• Welcoming culture & volunteer involvement: 10:53 – 13:58
• Alpha & gender-specific discipleship: 14:51 – 20:20
• Leadership pipeline and volunteer empowerment: 32:27 – 35:52
• Maintaining lean staff focus: 35:52 – 39:22
• Mindset encouragement & closing advice: 39:22 – 43:42

Resources & Further Connection

• City Church Website: weareforthecity.com
• Instagram & Facebook: City Church is active on both platforms.
• Women Executive Pastor Cohort: Sarah mentions gaining crucial support from this network.

This episode is a must-listen for church leaders hungry for practical models of reaching the unchurched, building robust diversity, discipleship for spiritual beginners, and leveraging the gifts of the entire church body amidst limited resources.