Robert Elkin
New York,,NY
Summary
Over the course of 20 years in ministry in New York City, I planted 2 churches and spent nearly 9 years stewarding leadership and mission at Redeemer City to City. I currently serve as Vice President for New York City, where I oversee the New York Project. My experience includes leading in complex, globalized, cross-cultural urban contexts that require both clarity of vision and operational depth. I have a proven ability to develop strategy, fundraise and steward financial resources, build collaborative teams, guide organizations through change, and cultivate cultures and systems that sustain mission at scale.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Vice President, New York City
Redeemer City to City
New York, NY
04.2024 - Current
- Led the New York Project team, which helped plant more than 250 new churches; under my leadership, the NYP saw an increase of 120 new churches in two years, with an 83% success rate
- Thrived as the executive leader of the NYP, including communicating vision, energizing catalysts, aligning missional strategy, overseeing fundraising, utilizing Nova Omnia, engaging RCTC global affiliates, deepening relationships with the oversight committee of the board, and forming a new collaborative leadership team
- Retained key major donors and lead fundraiser from NYP
- Developed a new fundraising team and strategy to engage new donors and large partner churches
- Stewarded a $6M budget and executed a 25% strategic downshift; aligned sustainable financial planning, staffing, and programming for post-NYP
- Designed post-NYP vision, mission, and strategy for CTC NYC
- Catalyzed 2 church planting networks across greater New York
- Transitioned the NYC team through a significant season of leadership change, including reshaping organizational culture and energizing the mission of church multiplication
Director of Training
Redeemer City To City
New York, NY
03.2020 - 03.2024
- Directed CTC NYC's flagship church planting training and coaching programs; architected a training ecosystem for 250 church plants in NYC; developed a diverse team of more than 50 trainers and coaches
- Facilitated training throughout the RCTC global network, including Asia, Europe, and North America; participated as a member of RCTC's global training team
- Designed the church multiplication strategy for NYC, including church planter competencies, healthy church indicators, integrated mission metrics, network development, and transdenominational growth
Assistant Director of Training
Redeemer City to City
New York, NY
02.2017 - 02.2020
- Co-designed and co-wrote Incubator Collective, the premier training program utilized globally for church planter training
- Developed trainers and coaches for Manhattan and borough church planters
- Met regularly with church planters and pastors for support, coaching, and consulting
Church Planter and Pastor
Trinity Grace Church Williamsburg
Brooklyn, NY
01.2013 - 06.2017
- Led the church plant as God grew it from 10 to 500 people in Sunday attendance in four years, including a leadership team of 70
- Baptized and discipled numerous people from diverse ethnicities and religious backgrounds
- Aligned vision, strategy, culture, systems, and curriculum to support deep discipleship and rapid growth
- Managed multiple church building transitions, including negotiating leases, fundraising, working with architects and engineers, and overseeing contractors
Church Planter and Pastor
Williamsburg Church
Brooklyn, NY
07.2005 - 12.2012
- Pioneered a church plant in Brooklyn toward Biblical faithfulness, financial sustainability, and kingdom fruitfulness
- Established a healthy structure for church membership, missional engagement, and leadership development
- Endured intense adversity in closing the church plant and courageously leading a replant that would become a beautiful resurrection story and expression of the kingdom of God
Education
Master of Divinity -
Kairos University
Sioux Falls, SDMaster of Science - Counseling
Bob Jones University
Greenville, SCBachelor of Arts - Bible
Bob Jones University
Greenville, SCSkills
- Visionary, Strategic & Collaborative Leadership
- Fundraising & Donor Development
- Movement Cultivation, Network Development & Transdenominational Church Planting
- Public Communication & Leadership Development
- Organizational Transformation & Change Leadership
- Financial Stewardship & Executive Management
Certification
Ordination for Gospel Ministry; Heritage Bible Church in Greer, SC
Certified Gospel Coach; Church Multiplication Ministries
Instructional Design Certificate; Association for Talent Development
Certified Gospel Coach; Church Multiplication Ministries
Instructional Design Certificate; Association for Talent Development
Sermons and Articles
"Exodus: Live Your True Name", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNudXZJn8hA
"Enter Rest", https://oaksbk.church/teachingarchive/2017/4/25/alive-nz5nt
"Learning to Fail", https://medium.com/redeemer-city-to-city/learning-to-fail-8e04f6268e6e
"The Story of Williamsburg Church, Chapter 1-11", https://robertelkin.medium.com/williamsburg-church-chapter-1-the-name-1b3c6dd50d91
Timeline
Vice President, New York City
Redeemer City to City
04.2024 - Current
Director of Training
Redeemer City To City
03.2020 - 03.2024
Assistant Director of Training
Redeemer City to City
02.2017 - 02.2020
Church Planter and Pastor
Trinity Grace Church Williamsburg
01.2013 - 06.2017
Church Planter and Pastor
Williamsburg Church
07.2005 - 12.2012
Master of Divinity -
Kairos University
Master of Science - Counseling
Bob Jones University
Bachelor of Arts - Bible
Bob Jones University