Letter
from COO

Dear Church,

We are honored to present our 2020 Hillsong East Coast Annual Report. 2020 was a year like none other, for us as a church and our world. Despite many challenges, obstacles and loss we are thankful for the many ways that God provided for us and for our communities.

This report is more than an accounting of efforts and achievements. It's a testament to God’s faithfulness and how He provides to reach the lost, broken and hurting. Despite what sometimes seemed like impossible circumstances, this amazing group of people we call church reached 2.1 million people around the world through our online church ministry. That incredible impact was only possible through the faithful generosity and sacrifice of each and every one of us who call Hillsong East Coast home.

Although we missed meeting in person, let’s consider the 2.1 million people reached through our online services. In March, our incredible team and volunteers pivoted to digital platforms that enabled us to connect corporately, in small group settings and on-on-one. Through our Hillsong East Coast YouTube Channel we reached over 2.1 million people across all 50 States in the U.S. and 108 countries.  More that 248,000 devotionals on YouTube were completed; a total of 27 unique devotional plans were published on YouVersion with options in English as well as Spanish and Portuguese.

From Midday Prayer to Wellness Wednesdays, Women in Business to Youth and Young Adults, Sisterhood Online and Kids Storytime, we continued to do life together as a church family online. Over 3,000 people participated in 415 virtual Connect Groups. Our pastoral team participated in over 1,400 one-on-one virtual staff chats and had the privilege to pray with more than 350 people in after service prayer.

There is no doubt that God was on the move, as we continued reaching out and connecting in these important ways, even though it looked very different from what we may have expected prior to COVID. It was an important moment for the local church and the response from our team and volunteers was strong.

As a result of this shift to online ministry, our 2020 operating budget looked different than years prior. In order to launch Sunday services online we made a strategic investment to purchase the production equipment needed for our first-ever Church Online studio at our 363 Lafayette office in New York City. We are so grateful to the generosity of so many who made the Lafayette offices a reality and thankful for God’s provision that just a few short months after their completion these offices became the home of Church Online. In addition, to support the growing needs of our creative, film and production teams we engaged third-party contractors and consultants to support our online ministry.

As our communities grappled with the devastating effects of COVID-19, our church sought to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Through our collective efforts, and longstanding partnership with Convoy of Hope, we were able to distribute 33 thousand pounds of food to our church and local community partners. As a result of our church’s generosity, we were able to support nearly 600 individuals and families with practical needs including food, supplies and medicine. In total we donated more than 10 thousand meals, provided pro-bono professional services through a dedicated team of volunteers to 32 small businesses, and supported frontline healthcare workers with donated items, prayer and notes of encouragement.

Through your generosity, we also were able to donate $176,000 to 18 local nonprofit organizations, all CityHOPE partners here on the east coast, and our global outreach initiatives with A21, Vision Rescue and the Hillsong South Africa Foundation.

While 2020 brought a season of pain, frustration, and uncertainty, both corporately and individually we are choosing to turn towards God’s ways as we humbly and wholly wait with expectation for an outpouring of God’s spirit. As a fresh wind of the Holy Spirit brings revival, restoration, and sparks something new and beautiful in our midst. 

 We love you church and are so expectant for all God has for us.

Sincerely,

Tolu Badders