Learn about our mission, values, and church-planting story.
The gospel is the good news that God forgives and adopts sinners as His own through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Everything we do flows from the gospel.
Worship means to give weight to something. We worship what we love most. Worship extends to all aspects of our life. We worship together every Sunday in our Lord's Day gatherings.
When God saves us, He brings us into relationship with Himself and with each other, forming us into brothers and sisters who learn to love the church by His grace. At Citylight this happens most directly through weekly community groups.
God's love doesn't stop with us. He sends us out to love our neighbor as ourselves. Therefore, we proclaim the gospel, and seek the good of our neighborhoods, community, and the world.
In 2011, Andy and Malynda Resh lived and worked in Tennessee, outside Nashville, as part of a church plant. Andrew was an elementary teacher, and Malynda worked in advertising. It was through the experience of being launch team members with City Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, that Andy caught the bug for church planting.
Over the next 6 years in TN, the call on his life to be a lead planter would grow. What started as an idea became a passion. Being PA natives, the Reshes felt compelled to return to the state and plant a church. After internships and a residency with Citylight Church in Manayunk, PA, Andy planted Citylight Delco in Upper Darby in late 2019. He faithfully pastored this church through the COVID-19 years until 2025.
In late 2024, it became apparent to the Reshes that God was calling them to do it again, this time in Dover, PA, a small town in York County. They are excited to return to their hometown to plant Citylight’s 6th church.
York County was home to the Reshes for over 20 years. It’s the place where Andy and Mindy were born and raised. They are Yorkers. Because of this connection, they “get” the people in a way that an outsider might not.
York is a unique place. Even though it has deep historical Christian roots, York does not have as many healthy churches as one might think. There is very little evangelical witness in the region, especially in Dover. With so many people primed to hear the gospel and so few churches, it seemed like a harvest field in dire need of some workers.
In 2012, the first Citylight Church began in Northwest Philadelphia with a group of 12 people united around a vision to make disciples of Jesus to the glory of God. What began as a small group bible study grew steadily into a church, united in the biblical core values of worship (love for God), community (love for the church), and mission (love for our neighbor).
Citylight does not revolve around elaborate ministries, but rather we do the things Jesus calls all Christians to do: gathering for worship on Sundays, meeting together in smaller communities for fellowship (we call these “Community groups”), and sharing life and the gospel with our neighbors. In the 14 years since Citylight launched, many people have been saved, lives changed, communities impacted, and five additional Citylight Churches planted, two more in the Philadelphia region, one in Amarillo, Texas, another in Manhattan, NYC and now one in Dover.
From those original 12, we now have more than 900 people gathering with us on Sundays and more than 35 Citygroups across the Citylight Network of Churches. By God’s grace, Citylight Dover is the sixth Citylight Church, beginning like the first Citylight began, as a small group of people united around the vision to make disciples of Jesus to the glory of God in their community.
In 2011, Andy and Malynda Resh lived and worked in Tennessee, outside Nashville, as part of a church plant. Andrew was an elementary teacher, and Malynda worked in advertising. It was through the experience of being launch team members with City Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, that Andy caught the bug for church planting.
Over the next 6 years in TN, the call on his life to be a lead planter would grow. What started as an idea became a passion. Being PA natives, the Reshes felt compelled to return to the state and plant a church. After internships and a residency with Citylight Church in Manayunk, PA, Andy planted Citylight Delco in Upper Darby in late 2019. He faithfully pastored this church through the COVID-19 years until 2025.
In late 2024, it became apparent to the Reshes that God was calling them to do it again, this time in Dover, PA, a small town in York County. They are excited to return to their hometown to plant Citylight’s 6th church.
York County was home to the Reshes for over 20 years. It’s the place where Andy and Mindy were born and raised. They are Yorkers. Because of this connection, they “get” the people in a way that an outsider might not.
York is a unique place. Even though it has deep historical Christian roots, York does not have as many healthy churches as one might think. There is very little evangelical witness in the region, especially in Dover. With so many people primed to hear the gospel and so few churches, it seemed like a harvest field in dire need of some workers.
In 2012, the first Citylight Church began in Northwest Philadelphia with a group of 12 people united around a vision to make disciples of Jesus to the glory of God. What began as a small group bible study grew steadily into a church, united in the biblical core values of worship (love for God), community (love for the church), and mission (love for our neighbor).
Citylight does not revolve around elaborate ministries, but rather we do the things Jesus calls all Christians to do: gathering for worship on Sundays, meeting together in smaller communities for fellowship (we call these “Community groups”), and sharing life and the gospel with our neighbors. In the 14 years since Citylight launched, many people have been saved, lives changed, communities impacted, and five additional Citylight Churches planted, two more in the Philadelphia region, one in Amarillo, Texas, another in Manhattan, NYC and now one in Dover.
From those original 12, we now have more than 900 people gathering with us on Sundays and more than 35 Citygroups across the Citylight Network of Churches. By God’s grace, Citylight Dover is the sixth Citylight Church, beginning like the first Citylight began, as a small group of people united around the vision to make disciples of Jesus to the glory of God in their community.
Beliefs & Distinctives
Citylight Dover shares the theological convictions of the Citylight family of churches. Our distinctives name the convictions that shape how our elders lead and how our church practices ministry.
Distinctive
We believe the gospel is both the means by which we are saved and the truth and power by which we are sanctified. The gospel enables us to joyfully do what is pleasing to God and conforms us to the likeness of Jesus. We never grow beyond our need for the gospel of grace.
Distinctive
We believe God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be his adopted children, not on the basis of anything we would do, but on the basis of his sovereign grace. We believe the Holy Spirit effectually draws the elect to himself through the gospel and keeps us in Christ forever. We believe God sovereignly uses the means of prayer and witness to draw the elect to himself.
Distinctive
We believe that Christ-like life and ministry depends on being continually filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We believe the Spirit sovereignly bestows all the spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament to Christians today for the building up of the Body of Christ.
Distinctive
We believe that God created humanity in his image male and female. Men and women, therefore, share moral, spiritual and personal equality. We also believe that men and women function in a complementary fashion in the home and church. Husbands are called to provide Christ-like headship in their homes and male elders are to provide Christ-like servant leadership through the office of elder or pastor.
Distinctive
We believe that baptism is picture of union with Jesus in his death and resurrection. Since we are raised with Christ through faith and become partakers of the new covenant through faith, Citylight church only baptizes those who give a credible profession of repentance and faith in Christ.
These are the core doctrines that shape our worship, community, and mission.
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Churches and individuals who pray, give, and believe in this work make it possible for us to plant and grow a gospel-centered church in Dover.
Join our team of prayer warriors! We'll send you regular updates on how God is moving in Dover and specific ways you can pray for our church and community.
Whether you're an individual, a family, or a church, we'd love to explore how we can partner together to see the gospel take root in Dover.
Have questions about faith, life, or our church? We'd love to connect with you. Whether you're curious about Christianity, navigating life decisions, or just want to talk, our pastors are here to listen and help however we can.