On November 8th, 1995 at 6:00 a.m., God spoke to Pastor Michael Pilla in his prayer and devotional time. Reading in Isaiah 58 verses 6-14, God birthed the vision for Jesus In The City out of that text. Over the weeks that followed, the Lord revealed to Pastor Michael a broad vision to help bring healing to Inner City.

Jesus in the City Fellowship is a vision to bring Christ into the lives of men and women who previously have not known Him in a personal way. Pastor Michael, who grew up in an urban community himself, came to the Lord during a time of great trial.

JICF Mission

Partnering with other ministries and churches, Jesus in the City was incorporated in 1996-97 and started holding outreaches and services in South Minneapolis. In the fall of 1998 we moved on to Lake Street and later came to Christ Church in February 2000, (our present location).

One of the signature pieces of Jesus in the City is its outreaches into the daily lives of people in South Minneapolis. Starting small with a couple of barbeque grills and some music, the outreaches have turned into large events ministering to hundreds, sometimes thousands of people. Bringing the Gospel to the streets of Minneapolis, Jesus in the City now partners with a number of different churches and ministries in conducting the outreaches.

The increasing involvement with other churches throughout the inner city of Minneapolis led to the next step that God had called Pastor Pilla to. God showed Pastor the vision of the healing of the City.  Through the anointing on him, Pastor Pilla has spearheaded a new organization in the Twin City area called “Hands Across the City”.  This organization is bringing together many churches of different denominations as well as independent churches for the purpose of reaching families and bringing spiritual and emotional healing through Jesus Christ.

Another signature piece of Jesus in the City is the “Christmas In The City Outreach” started in 2000. The focus of “Christmas In The City Outreach” is on bringing the Gospel into families living in the city. This outreach has developed a group of supporting churches and businesses that provide the trees, food and gifts for families in need during the Christmas season every year.  This program is growing each year.  In 2004 alone, Christmas In The City served 50 families that otherwise wouldn’t have had a Christmas.