An Eternal Investment
Vision Goal
We’re aiming to raise $565,600 in external funding to launch and establish Hill City Church.
Launching hill city Church
Starting a new church is like launching a rocket: it requires a significant boost in the beginning to get it up into the sky! New churches require upfront investment in people, ministry, and infrastructure, so that real people in Rock Hill can be served and introduced to the life-changing message of the Gospel.
Our projected budgetary needs from pre-launch through three full operating years is just under $2 million. This investment doesn’t just establish Sunday gatherings — it fuels discipleship pathways, outreach into Rock Hill schools and neighborhoods, kids and student ministries, and the systems needed to multiply disciples and churches across our city.
We are intentionally aiming high, believing that God can do immeasurably more than all we ask or think, trusting that He will provide for the vision He has given us.
Why three years matters
Our goal is to fully fund the first three years of operating expenses for Hill City Church. This is intentional for two key reasons:
1. The first three years are critical.
Research shows that if a new church survives its first three years, the likelihood of long-term health and sustainability rises dramatically. These early years are when the foundation is laid—establishing a leadership core, building healthy rhythms of worship and discipleship, and creating a culture that reflects the heart of the gospel.
Without a strong foundation, a church plant is vulnerable. With it, the ministry has room to grow for decades to come.
2. It costs to reach new people.
Unlike an established church, a plant cannot assume that every new attender is already a practicing giver. In fact, if we are truly reaching people who are disconnected from God and the church, we should expect many to come without a background in generosity or tithing. It takes time and intentional discipleship to cultivate hearts that give joyfully and sacrificially.
This means that in the beginning, growth in attendance will not immediately translate into growth in giving. In reality, it will cost us more to minister well, as we invest deeply to help people learn what it means to love and follow Jesus with every part of their lives.
By raising the first three years of expenses up front, we give Hill City Church the stability to focus on what matters most—making disciples, reaching the lost, and planting a lasting gospel witness in Rock Hill—without the constant pressure of financial survival.
By the end of Year 3, our goal is to see Hill City’s regular giving fully sustain the ministry, freeing outside investment to fuel new churches and gospel movements in the future.
HOW TO GIVE
Your generosity today helps lay the foundation for a church that will serve Rock Hill for decades.
1) Online Giving
Make a fully tax-deductible gift online at the link below.
2) Giving By Mail
Standard checks and QCDs can be made payable to “Hill City Church” and mailed to:
Hill City Church
PO Box 10014
Rock Hill, SC 29731
3) Give Appreciated Stock or Through a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)
We are equipped to receive complex, tax-advantaged gifts, such as appreciated stock or grants from your Donor-Advised Fund, through our sending church, Forest Hill Church.
Action Required: All stock transfers and DAF grants must be directed to: Forest Hill Church (7224 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210)
Crucial Step: You must designate the gift for Hill City Church in the memo line or grant instructions to ensure the funds are correctly allocated to our mission.
Your Contact: To ensure we track your gift accurately and confirm receipt, please notify our team once you have initiated the transfer. Email Gray to Notify Us: gray@hillcity.cc
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We have filed for tax-exempt status and fully expect to receive it in the next few months. In the meantime, all your gifts to Hill City are still fully tax-deductible.