September 2023

Dear Friends,
The past few months have been a busy and encouraging time for Christ Reformed Church in
Washington, D.C. We have experienced both the joy of growth and the pain of loss; we are now
privileged, for the first time in our history, to be involved in the process of planting a church as an
overseeing congregation; and we have witnessed the Lord’s abundant provision for our material
needs, even as we continue to pray for greater financial stability.
Here is what’s happening in God’s Church as we serve in our nation’s capital.
Growth and Loss
Our congregation continues to change and grow. This month we not only celebrated the baptisms of
Esdras and Esther, two beautiful covenant children, but also received into membership a returning
military family of seven (with two of the children now being full professing members) and four
other adults, including one by profession of faith and whose testimony is a powerful reminder of
God’s grace to us sinners.
For a small church like ours, located in such a transient area, these thirteen souls have a large
impact, representing an increase in our total membership of more than 25 percent! We praise God
for growing His church here in D.C. and anticipate further growth, as we are beginning another
membership course this month.
Yet, even as we have experienced the blessing of these new members, including the special joy of
reconnecting with the returning family and seeing them jump back into the flow of our
ever-changing church community, we also experienced the loss of a cherished young family who
moved back to their hometown in Pennsylvania. While we will miss them greatly (loading the
U-Haul was difficult!), we thank God for the blessing they were to our congregation and pray for
them as they embark on this next chapter of their life.

The eventful Sunday, September 17, 2023, when we heard the Profession of Faith of a new member,
welcomed three new members, and rejoiced in the return of a family of seven into the congregation!

P.O. Box 6135, Washington, DC 20044 || www.ChristReformedDC.org || 202.656.1611

Church Planting
In July 2023, Rev. Luke Gossett, now ordained to the office of Home Missionary, returned with his
family to Birmingham, Alabama, to begin the process of planting a new URCNA congregation
there. Since their move, the Gossett family has been hosting a weekly catechism study in their new
home on Sunday evening. We rejoice with the Gossetts, as every week so far has brought at least
one new face through their door to learn about their small group. It has been especially encouraging
to see how people have heard of this new work via contacts in other URCNA churches in Grand
Rapids and New York.
This work would not be possible for a small church like ours if not for the support of the Classis
Eastern U.S. Church Planting Fund, which is generously providing for 50 percent of Birmingham’s
operating costs in the first developmental year. However, we are still projecting a budget deficit of
$10,000 for the Birmingham work during this period, and we are actively seeking partners to
support us in this exciting new mission field.
We encourage you to read Birmingham URC’s recent newsletter and prayerfully consider including
them in your church’s missions budget. You can find more information about how to support the
Birmingham work at BirminghamURC.org, or by contacting Rev. Luke Gossett.
Financial Stability
Last year, the Lord was abundantly faithful in providing for our financial needs and helped us cover
a sizable projected deficit through individual selfless acts of giving and generous donations from
our sister churches in the URCNA. This year, we again look to the Lord for provision and pray for
continued support from friends and partners outside of D.C. to help us meet our budget.
In addition to the projected budget deficit in Birmingham, we have also projected a budget deficit of
$26,000 for our operating costs here in Washington, D.C., during this current fiscal year. It is our
hope that our recent growth will help narrow that gap, but for now we must continue seeking
outside support from friends and partners, as many of our new members are graduate students or
recent college graduates just getting their start in the world.
In Closing
As we enter our third year in our Capitol Hill location, we can’t help but rejoice as we reflect on
God’s blessings in the form of new church memberships, a growing ministry in D.C. and
Birmingham, and improved financial stability. We look forward to witnessing how the Lord will
continue to bless us this year and in the years to come.
Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support of the work we have undertaken, which
could not be accomplished without you. The notes, donations, and visits you provide are a great
encouragement to us in a city often defined by secularism and hostile to the message of salvation we
have in Christ.
In His Name,
Rev. Dr. Brian J. Lee
On Behalf of the Congregation of
Christ Reformed Church
Washington, DC