Why New York City?
It’s a story that stretches back to the 1800s, and continues with what God is doing in our family seven generations later in 2026.
Family History
Like many modern-day Americans, we had many family members who immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island in New York City well over a century ago, coming from countries like Germany and Ireland. After arriving, Tyler’s family eventually planted roots in the city and settled into a then primarily German neighborhood in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and then in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Since that time, countless family members have called one of the city’s five boroughs home.
Gospel Need
People make the city, and over 8 million people call New York City home. As Christians, we know about God’s heart for cities because God loves the people who call them home. In Jonah 4:11, God says: “And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons…?” With over 8 million image-bearers, NYC is an amazing city with a rich Gospel history. Today, however, it’s also a city that needs more laborers who will tell others about Jesus, so that more people may place their hope in Christ, and not the stock market, the arts, or their achievements.
Gospel Plans
Our family moved to Manhattan at the end of 2024, and our family is continuing to plant roots and settle into the city. During this time, we are taking steps to prepare to plant a church. Tyler is working closely with the North American Mission Board, participating in their city-wide church planting cohort, alongside other future church planters in the city. Tyler and Erin are also both so thankful to be serving in part-time roles at Apostles Church Uptown on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Tyler serves as a Ministry Associate, and Erin serves as the Children’s Ministry Director.
Jeremiah 29:7
But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
Planting in the Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is one of Manhattan’s true neighborhoods. Vibrant, yet peaceful. Densely populated, yet slow(er), compared to the rest of the city. The Upper West Side isn’t a neighborhood for those only looking for fun, it’s a neighborhood for those looking to plant roots and call the city home. City statistics bear this out. Nearly half of the homes in the Upper West Side are made up of families. Schools dot many corners, opposite fun coffee shops and delicious restaurants. You’ll also find many houses of worship.
So why plant another? Quite simply, with over 250,000 residents, the Gospel presence in the neighborhood is small. There are several biblically-faithful, Gospel-preaching churches in the neighborhood, and we thank God for them! There are laborers in the neighborhood, but we need more. Jesus teaches us that the harvest is plentiful (it is!) but the laborers are few (and they are!). So, our family is prayerfully working to see the Gospel presence in the neighborhood grow by engaging our neighbors and friends with the Gospel, trusting that God will draw people to Himself, and see a church planted.
Would you partner with us in this work?
How you can partner with us
01.
Pray for our family
We believe that God calls His people to be a praying people. As a family, we have no power to create any sort of change, nor can we bring new life to those who don’t know Jesus. The only way anything will happen is if we ask God to move mightily both in our family and in the city we serve. Would you join us in prayer, asking God to continue making His name known in NYC?
02.
Give towards our family
As a family planting a church, we are fully dependent upon the Lord of all things to provide for our family’s on-going financial needs. We know that God owns all things, and that He’s called people to partner with us in this work. Would you prayerfully consider financially supporting our family on a regular basis, whether that be monthly, annually, or with one-time gifts?
03.
Serve with our family
We would be honored if you would take the time to pray for us, or if you decide to give towards our family. But there is still one more way you can be directly involved in our work in the city: You can serve with us! Would you pray through what it might look like to take a weekend, a week or two, or even moving for a season, and coming in person to serve in the city?
learn more about our partners in ministry
Are you ready to partner with our family?
The Wilson Family in New York City 