2026 - 2027 CALENDAR
AUGUST 7-8, 2026 | Gospel Fluency & Renewal Experience
This is a focused retreat designed to deepen understanding of the gospel’s value not just for conversion but for ongoing spiritual growth. Leaders explore how gospel-centered growth differs from self-help efforts and examine the anatomy of idolatry, especially patterns common among church planters. This sets a foundation for gospel resiliency, humility, and dependence on grace throughout the training.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 | Personal Life of a Leader
This module helps participants develop self-awareness and emotional intelligence essential for sustainable leadership in church planting. Topics include connecting personal health with ministry effectiveness, recognizing and processing emotional patterns, addressing past wounds through gospel-centered healing, understanding family systems through genogram work, and managing leadership anxiety in key relationships.
genogram work, recognize how these patterns influence their ministry, and manage leadership anxiety in key relationships during the church planting journey.
genogram work, recognize how these patterns influence their ministry, and manage leadership anxiety in key relationships during the church planting journey.
OCTOBER 19, 2026 | City Vision and Contextualization
Leaders learn how to craft a gospel-centered vision for their city and neighborhood. This session focuses on understanding the complex cultural, social, and spiritual dynamics of the context. Participants work to identify cultural blind spots and learn how to communicate Christ’s message in ways that resonate authentically with local people. The goal is to develop contextual strategies that allow the church to be present and missional in its setting.
NOVEMBER 16, 2026 | Discipleship Pathways
This module explores how to move beyond teaching to formation. Leaders are introduced to apprenticeship models that allow people to do ministry, not just hear about it. A key emphasis is creating structures for training core teams where participants give input, practice skills, and build ownership. Internal goals strengthen church infrastructure while external goals build missional habits.
DECEMBER 2026 | CTC SoCal Gathering
Gospel Community Gathering to connect, share and encourage one another.
Gospel Community refers to a spiritually vibrant, relationally connected group of people shaped by the gospel of grace. Rooted in Keller’s emphasis on the gospel as both the means of salvation and the pattern for all of life, Gospel Communities embody the redemptive power of the gospel in everyday relationships.
Gospel Community refers to a spiritually vibrant, relationally connected group of people shaped by the gospel of grace. Rooted in Keller’s emphasis on the gospel as both the means of salvation and the pattern for all of life, Gospel Communities embody the redemptive power of the gospel in everyday relationships.
JANUARY 11, 2027 | Networking and Gathering
This module equips planters to develop intentional pathways that lead people into their church communities. Leaders learn strategic approaches to evangelistic networking and community-building. The emphasis is on practical tools to foster authentic relationships and create events that naturally cultivate a missional culture throughout the congregation.
FEBRUARY 8, 2027 | Cultural and Community Engagement
Participants learn how to engage their community meaningfully and intentionally. This includes identifying personal and church cultural engagement styles and learning four models for engaging the culture. The training offers practical frameworks to connect with the community in ways that are both respectful and effective, helping ministers become cultural bridge-builders in their city.
MARCH 8, 2027 | Ministry Design
This module helps leaders articulate and design balanced ministry strategies. Participants build a biblical framework centered on communion, community, and commissioning and learn how to create meaningful gathering spaces. They are trained to think holistically about evangelism, discipleship, faith and work, and mercy and justice. Leaders craft language that resonates with non-Christians, identify effective missional strategies, and build core teams oriented toward curiosity.
APRIL 2027 | CTC SoCal Gathering
Gospel Community Gathering to connect, share and encourage one another.
Gospel Community refers to a spiritually vibrant, relationally connected group of people shaped by the gospel of grace. Rooted in Keller’s emphasis on the gospel as both the means of salvation and the pattern for all of life, Gospel Communities embody the redemptive power of the gospel in everyday relationships.
Gospel Community refers to a spiritually vibrant, relationally connected group of people shaped by the gospel of grace. Rooted in Keller’s emphasis on the gospel as both the means of salvation and the pattern for all of life, Gospel Communities embody the redemptive power of the gospel in everyday relationships.
MAY 11, 2027 | Kingdom Prayer
This session deepens participants’ understanding of spiritual warfare and dependency on the Holy Spirit for church planting. Leaders learn gospel-centered prayer practices both for personal renewal and communal ministry impact. The training equips participants to cultivate a prayer- saturated ministry that fuels spiritual breakthrough for their families, churches, and neighborhoods.
JUNE 14, 2027 | Gospel Centered Preaching
Preaching is central to church life. This module focuses on what makes a sermon truly gospel- centered and how to preach the gospel from every text in ways that serve both non-believers and Christians. Participants practice preaching in front of a panel of leaders and receive feedback to improve clarity, relevance, and gospel fidelity.
JULY 12, 2027 | Mercy and Justice
The final module explores the foundations of mercy and justice from Scripture and their implications for church life and community engagement. Participants learn how the gospel reshapes approaches to service and advocacy, moving from power-based benefaction to incarnational, Christ-like servanthood. Leaders gain practical principles for embedding biblical justice as a lifestyle in their church that leads to lasting transformation in the community.
Meet the team
Dr. Christian Castro
Regional Director - City to City San Diego
Dr. Christian Castro is the Lead Pastor of Rolando Church, part of the Community Church Movement, and serves as the Regional Director for City to City San Diego. He’s been in church planting for over two decades, with experience spanning the Midwest, East Coast, and now Southern California. Along the way, he’s helped launch new churches and breathe new life into legacy congregations by connecting with the next generation.
Christian planted a church in New York through Redeemer Church Planting Center, which later became City to City, under the mentorship of Tim Keller. Since then, he’s continued working with City to City in different capacities. He holds an MDiv in Urban Ministry from Westminster Theological Seminary and a DMin in Missiology from Southeastern University.
Christian has been married to Liz for 25 years, and they’re raising three incredible sons together. When he’s not pastoring or coaching leaders, you’ll find him working on his garden, riding his dirt bike, playing sports with his sons, and spending time with his family.
Christian planted a church in New York through Redeemer Church Planting Center, which later became City to City, under the mentorship of Tim Keller. Since then, he’s continued working with City to City in different capacities. He holds an MDiv in Urban Ministry from Westminster Theological Seminary and a DMin in Missiology from Southeastern University.
Christian has been married to Liz for 25 years, and they’re raising three incredible sons together. When he’s not pastoring or coaching leaders, you’ll find him working on his garden, riding his dirt bike, playing sports with his sons, and spending time with his family.
Richard Valadez
Catalyst/Trainer - City to City San Diego (Español)
Richard Valadez es Pastor Plantador de Iglesia EastLake que forma parte del Network de Iglesias del Community Church Movement en San Diego, California. Richard ha tenido la oportunidad de trabajar en el Ministerio de tiempo completo desde hace más de 18 años con organizaciones como Willow Creek Association - México, Central Church en Las Vegas y actualmente como parte del equipo Pastoral de EastLake Church en San Diego California. El y su esposa Rita crecieron en Tijuana, México han estado casados por 16 años y tienen 2 niñas que nacieron en Las Vegas. Richard tiene una pasión intencional por el equipamiento de Liderazgo en la Iglesia Local y por la Plantación de Iglesias. El Café, La Gastronomía, el Golf y el Fútbol son sus conversaciones favoritas.