The Need Across the East Bay
The East Bay is one of the wealthiest and least churched regions in the country. Berkeley is a city where young adults arrive and leave, often passing through without ever finding a lasting community.
62%
U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey (2024)
52%
Healthy Minds Study (2024 to 2025)
1 in 4
Alameda County Community Food Bank (2025)
46,151
UC Berkeley Office of Planning and Analysis (fall 2025)
You can help change these numbers today.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey (2024); Healthy Minds Study (2024 to 2025); Alameda County Community Food Bank (2025); UC Berkeley Office of Planning and Analysis (fall 2025).
Formation, Not Just Attendance
In a university city, people are often with us for only a season, so every season has to count. Our vision is to root people deeply in Christ, so that when they arrive in their next city, they arrive as disciples, not former attendees.
STEP 01
Believe
Explorer to Believer
STEP 03
Grow
Builder to Leader
STEP 02
Belong
Believer to Builder
STEP 04
Go
Leader to Multiplier
Three Organizations
A Five Year Plan, 2026 to 2030
Emerge Forward brings together seven initiatives across three independent organizations. Each initiative has a budget, yearly targets, and a plan to become self sustaining.
$1,764,720
five year vision
Emerge Church
501(c)(3) church
DEEPER Discipleship. Training rooted leaders who each disciple others one on one.
Young Adults (18-29). Welcoming college students, graduate students, young professionals, and young families who are moving into the East Bay.
R.E.A.C.H. Outreach. Bringing new neighbors into community and into faith.
Leadership Residency. Training future pastors for high turnover cities like ours.
7
initiatives
The Compassion Center
501(c)(3) status in progress
The Compassion Center. Food access, counseling support, financial literacy, and housing help for East Bay neighbors.
13
measurable outcomes
Emerge Berkeley Christian Academy
separately incorporated 501(c)(3) school
Preschool Launch. Opening a licensed preschool designed to sustain itself through tuition.
K through 8 Scholarships. Keeping a Christian education within reach for families who need it most.
3
independent organizations
Investor dollars launch the work. Each initiative has a plan for other sources to replace those dollars step by step, so the work can stand on its own.
The return is not financial. It’s measured in disciples formed and sent, neighbors served, children educated, and leaders trained. Every investor receives a written report each year.
This Is Not an Idea on Paper
485
Families on our roster receive a monthly invitation to share prayer requests, and we pray for each of them.
3,000+
More than 3,000 people across the East Bay are prayed for and encouraged regularly.
90 Days
A 90 day encouragement system follows up with every person who crosses our path.
Young Adults (18-29)
Young Adults (18-29) gathers college students, graduate students, young professionals, and young families, with monthly gatherings for the community.
K–8
EBCA is currently a hybrid K through 8 school, with a new grade added each year.
24
Rooted leaders are being intentionally recruited for discipleship cohorts launching in 2027.
Leaders Who Carry the Work
Garfield and Mimi Harvey are the founding pastors of Emerge, launched in 2023. Together, they bring more than 20 years of congregational leadership and church planting experience and have planted churches together. Garfield has also planted more than 14 churches internationally. He holds a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership: Global Perspectives and serves as Project Faculty at Portland Seminary. Mimi serves as Executive Pastor and Head of Schools and holds a doctoral degree from Portland Seminary.
“We are not asking anyone to carry what we will not carry ourselves.” — Garfield
Request the Full Plan
Share a few details and Garfield will personally send you the full plan. It takes less than a minute.