Who We Are
Our History
2008In 2008, the Session of New City Fellowship at Westminster sensed the Lord leading them to extend the ministry into the East Lake community. With unanimous support, they committed to establishing a second worship site there, stepping forward in faith to serve and love their neighbors in a new way. Under the pastoral leadership of Jim Picket, the East Lake congregation began gathering for Sunday afternoon worship, first meeting in partnership with East Lake United Methodist Church. From the beginning, the vision was not only to hold worship services but to invest deeply in the community. An afterschool tutoring program was launched to serve neighborhood children and families, reflecting the church’s desire to see holistic flourishing in East Lake.
2011As the congregation grew, so did its sense of identity and calling. In 2011, the Lord provided an opportunity for the church to establish a more permanent presence in the neighborhood. Morning worship services began, and ministry efforts expanded. A faithful team helped shape these early years, including Pastor Jim Picket, Caleb Long, Kara Cadwell, and Eunice Mendoza, who led important discipleship and outreach initiatives.
2015Over time, the East Lake congregation continued to mature. In 2015, a new afterschool music program called Expression Engine was launched to cultivate creativity and confidence in neighborhood children. The following year, East Lake Montessori (now known as Mission Montessori) was established, further extending the church’s commitment to education and care for families. Both ministries eventually became independent nonprofits, a testimony to their growth and impact.
2016After much prayer and discernment, the East Lake Commission voted in 2016 to pursue particularization, and that summer the Presbytery formally recognized the congregation as its own church. This marked a significant milestone — a transition from being a worship site of Glenwood to becoming a self-governing body with its own leadership and calling within the Presbyterian Church in America.
2018Leadership transitions also marked this season of growth. Pastor Jim Picket retired at the end of 2018 after years of faithful service. In the years that followed, the Lord continued to provide shepherds for the congregation. Gustavo Formenti was called to serve, later ordained in the PCA, and now serves as Associate Pastor. Danny Mitchell faithfully served as Interim Pastor during a season of transition.
2021In recent years, the congregation has continued seeking ways to steward its resources wisely and strengthen its ministry for the future. Through prayer, generosity, and shared vision — including the “New Season” campaign in 2021–2022 — the church has reaffirmed its commitment to the East Lake community and to the work God has entrusted to it.
From its beginnings as a vision in the hearts of leaders in Glenwood to a particularized church with growing ministries and deep community roots, the story of New City Fellowship East Lake is one of faithful dependence on the Lord, steady growth, and a sustained desire to see the gospel take root and bear fruit in the East Lake neighborhood.
About our Denomination
New City East Lake is a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). The PCA was formed in 1973 by a nucleus of about 260 churches and has grown as of 2020 to about 1600 churches with 300,000 members. The form of government is by a plurality of elders. Individual churches have elders, and congregations are united with a commitment of mutual support, encouragement, and accountability.