2024 ANNUAL REPORT
A YEAR OF NEW BEGINNINGS
BUILDING MOMENTUM TO LAUNCH IN 2025
QUICK STATS
50+
guests exploring Jesus through Alpha courses
4,000+
San Franciscans served via our volunteer efforts
150%+
growth in Sanctuary launch team
202
# of first time guests at Sanctuary events in 2024
1,120+
community service volunteer hours
#1
San Francisco is the most unchurched metro area in the U.S. (Barna)
2024 HIGHLIGHTS
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6
A GROWING LAUNCH TEAM
We’ve spent the year intentionally seeking God in prayer to guide us and grow our launch team. He’s answered our prayers! Our team has grown by 150% in the last 12 months — and we’re so excited about the wonderful community that he’s forming in San Francisco.
DOGPATCH HUB COMMUNITY CENTER RIBBON CUTTING
We were honored to take part in the grand opening of the Dogpatch Hub in our target area of the city. With a DIY flower bouquet bar, we gifted 130 bouquets to our neighbors and added to the festivities with face painting and balloon animals. It was a joy to witness the community come together, fostering connection and celebrating the vision of unity in a time often marked by isolation.
AUTUMN MOON FESTIVAL
The Autumn Moon holiday is a significant annual celebration within the predominantly Chinese neighborhood where Sanctuary currently meets. We were excited to join in the street festival with the Portola Neighborhood Association, building connections and blessing our community. Our face painting station was a favorite with kids, and we helped host a mooncake-making workshop. Balloon animals and goodie bags ensured everyone left with a smile.
FLEET WEEK TAILGATE
Every year, San Francisco hosts its incredible air show right on the beach next to the Golden Gate Bridge. This time, we showed up with a few grills and a stack of smash burgers, ready to feed the crowd. Over 70 guests joined us for some tasty free food while taking in the thrilling sights of the iconic Blue Angels soaring through the sky. It was a perfect day of great food, good company, and unforgettable views!
LAUNCH PARTIES
We held our first two launch parties in the beautiful Mission Bay neighborhood, inviting our friends who were interested in learning more about the church plant to come along. After a catered Mexican buffet and with the kids enjoying a fun craft nearby, Tim and Kelsy shared their heart for Jesus and for San Francisco — as well as a clear vision for the community we believe God is establishing through Sanctuary Church. Many have joined our launch team through these interest nights, and all 135 guests would have heard the good news of Jesus.
5 ALPHA COURSES & 50 GUESTS
Alpha is a course designed for those who are exploring faith. Throughout the year, we were able to host not one, not two, but FIVE amazing Alpha courses, welcoming over 50 guests. Each course provided a warm and inviting space for participants to explore questions about faith, connect with one another, and engage in meaningful discussions. It was rewarding to see so many individuals take part in this journey, fostering a sense of community and growth together. From our Alpha guests, we were thrilled to witness one get baptized and multiple others who are now walking with Jesus!
In addition, one of our own members has accepted a position with the Alpha organization, specifically helping mobilize other churches in San Francisco to run their own Alpha courses. Through this work, Alpha was run by at least 25 churches in the city this year!
"The Alpha course has really affirmed me in my faith and my relationship with God. I no longer feel I may be doing it wrong, but rather feel like I have been doing it right all along. It has also opened me up to God in a way that a church hasn’t been able to. I’ve loved it!”
- Christina
NEW STAFF MEMBER AND THE WOODLEY’S RETURN
We welcomed back Jordan, Bekka and the new addition to the family, Alfie. The Woodley’s returned to San Francisco after spending 6 months interning in 2023. Jordan joins the staff at Sanctuary as Associate Pastor and has been heavily involved in organizing Launch Parties, Fleet Week and our Team Nights.
EASTER 2024: RECORD NUMBER OF GUESTS
On Easter Sunday, we experienced an incredible turnout, welcoming the largest number of guests we’ve ever had! We were able to clearly celebrate the life and resurrection of Jesus! After the service, we partnered with the Portola Neighborhood Association to gain exclusive access to a not-yet-open new park behind our building to enjoy an easter egg hunt for all the kids and parents with us that morning.
PARENT’S NIGHT OUT
To bless the parents we’ve been building relationship within the community, we organized a free child care evening around Valentine’s Day. We had several families and single moms in the community come and join us. We were grateful for the opportunity to serve our community and build relationships with families who might not have engaged with us before.
TEACHING SERIES
Learning from scripture is a crucial bedrock for us at Sanctuary. Here’s a quick summary of some of the teaching series from 2023:
Antioch: What Goes on in a Church That Sends People Out
Break the Soil: 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting
How We Change: How the Gospel Changes Everything
Just Jesus: Eyes on Jesus in A Time of Disillusion & Disappointment
“Sanctuary feels like a home away from home, a place where I can always find someone to talk to when I’m in need or uncertain about life. I know the brothers and sisters here are ready to offer help and support. While none of us are perfect, I believe Sanctuary is a community that genuinely strives to follow Jesus and live out his teachings.”
- Felix
OUR VISION
THAT EVERYONE WOULD FIND SANCTUARY IN CHRIST
We believe Jesus is the place of safety we can all run to. He is someone who loves us and listens to us. So we are endeavoring to find sanctuary in Christ, become sanctuary together, and extend sanctuary to the city.
FINDING
SANCTUARY IN CHRIST
BECOMING
SANCTUARY TOGETHER
EXTENDING
SANCTUARY TO THE CITY
OUR FINANCES
This work has only been made possible by the generosity of many — both near and far — who have chosen to invest in the Kingdom of God in San Francisco. We have been overwhelmed with God’s faithfulness through the area of finance. As we endeavor to be good stewards of the gifts He has provided, below is a quick report of what has been given and spent.
2024 INCOME & EXPENSES
2024 AT A GLANCE
(NOV 2023 - OCT 2024)
Income = $178,308
Expenses = $173,735
2025 BUDGET
INCOME VS. EXPENSE
EXPENSE BREAKDOWN
Projected Deficit = $108,528*
*to be made up through our 2024 Christmas Offering, a matching grant received and current cash reserves
CURRENT GIVING PARTNERS
Transforming the Bay with Christ
Various individuals and families who wish to remain anonymous
PARTNER WITH US
“New church plants are usually more effective at reaching the lost:
42% of members at successful church plants were previously unchurched.”
The Pinetops Foundation
LAUNCHING PUBLIC SERVICES IN 2025
2024 gave us the opportunity to lay down a foundation through multiple Alpha Courses, engaging the community and strengthening our core team. In 2025, we have one overarching initiative: re-start weekly Sunday Services and move into a neighborhood that will allow us to reach even more people.
FUNDRAISING GOAL = $100,000
YOUR SACRIFICIAL GENEROSITY WILL ENABLE US TO:
1
SECURE A NEW BUILDING
We believe God is calling us to launch services in a new part of the city to expand our reach and impact more lives.
2
START PUBLIC SERVICES
We’ve built a strong launch team and are ready to start Sunday services in February 2025.
3
SERVE SAN FRANCISCO
We’ve seen our relationships with the communities around us deepen, and we are excited to continue building this support.
$40K IN MATCHING GRANTS SECURED!
Through the generosity of The Stratum Foundation and Transforming the Bay with Christ, Sanctuary has qualified for a matching grant of $30,000. For every $1 donated, an additional $1 will be matched, doubling the impact of those donations up to $30,000.
On top of that, another generous donor has pledged to double match the first $10,000.
That means, if we raise $30,000, it will turn into $70,000.
If you’d like to give stock, cryptocurrency, by check, or via a donor advised fund, please contact us and we can help accommodate.
“At Sanctuary Church, we were looking for more than just a place to worship—we wanted a true community. We’ve found exactly that here. The people are warm, welcoming, and genuinely care for one another. Being part of this church has made us feel truly connected and supported.”
- Cal and Emma Ladine
“Church planting is the single most effective strategy we know for reaching the lost and the previously unaffiliated.”
- The Great Opportunity: The American Church in 2050
The Pinetops Foundation
BE PART OF THE STORY
You can be part of the story God is writing for San Francisco. Here are three simple ways you can partner with Sanctuary SF:
PRAY
Join us in praying that God would continue to root us in the city.
GIVE
Give to the work God is doing in San Francisco.
JOIN
Join us in San Francisco as a part of the core team.
