OUR STORY

Cultivate Church officially began on December 26, 2010 as a group of 45 adults who banded together in the wake of major transition. We didn't know what we were getting ourselves into or what God had in store for us. All we knew was that we were being led as His family into a new future. That future included a vision of being the kind of church that was a blessing to its neighbors in the name of Jesus.

We believed, and still do, that God has placed us here to be His family of missionary servants sent to saturate South Jersey with His presence in all that we do.

Two of the founding passages of scripture that God used to confirm this calling were:

"If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:10-11

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

These verses, along with OUR MISSION, caused us to ask the question, “What if a church existed for the good of its neighbors, to be such a source of blessing that the community is thankful that it exists? Would that be the kind of church you would be involved in?"

The overwhelming answer to that question was “Yes,” and Cultivate was born. In just a few years, we have witnessed God do some amazing things!

OUR VISION

The Garden State (yes, that's New Jersey) was originally considered the "Bread Basket" of the Northeast. Producing far more nourishment than it could consume on its own, New Jersey was the major food supplier for both New York City and Philadelphia. In fact, one politician described Jersey like a barrel, full of good things to eat and open at both ends for all to enjoy.

We believe that the Gospel has the same effect for the family of God, producing in us not just the ability to feed ourselves but to feed a hungry world with the knowledge of who God is, demonstrated by the way we live. As His people, we seek every opportunity to be a source of blessing for our neighbors; living everyday life alongside them with the power that comes from the good news of what God has done through Jesus Christ.

Our vision is to be a network of communities, deeply rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ, who live out our IDENTITY in him throughout everyday life as we make disciples who will then go and make disciples. We believe God has called us to this vision--together with other like-minded churches--to plant one community living on mission for every one thousand people in our area. As we do, we envision a day when the glory of who God is will saturate every corner of South Jersey, overflowing it with the presence of Jesus for all to enjoy.

We welcome you to join us in seeing this vision become a reality.

OUR MISSION

Planting communities deeply rooted in Christ that bear rich fruit for the good of the Garden State.

Jesus commissioned his disciples to be disciples who make disciples. A disciple of Jesus is committed to bringing all of life increasingly under the leadership of Jesus. They are also committed to leading others to bring all of life increasingly under the leadership of Jesus. The mission of Cultivate Church is not just to grow a Sunday gathering or fill community groups with people. Our desire is to equip God's people to be disciples who make disciples so gospel saturation might take place all across New Jersey.

We believe it's not the few who do the ministry for the many, but a few who equip the many for the ministry. Come join us to be equipped for Jesus' mission!