Mission
We are a neighborhood church of refuge that is Calling all people to Jesus, Connecting them to His people, and Commissioning them out as kingdom citizens into our neighborhood, our city, and our world.
Vision
We want to be lighthouses of light that spread the light of Christ throughout the Eau Claire neighborhood.
Our Story
Leadership
Jarrian “JayWill” Wilson
Jarrian is the planting and Lead Pastor of City of Refuge Church. City of Refuge was born from a burden that the Lord had laid on Jarrian’s heart for a faithful, gospel-centered church that sought to reach his neighbors with the transformative Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Eau Claire Neighborhood.
Jarrian also serves as the Church Planting Catalyst with the Columbia Metro Baptist Association, where he seeks to help churches develop missional strategies to prepare and plant more churches within Columbia’s footprint.
Jarrian has studied at the Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC, where he hopes to complete his Master of Divinity Degree. But, most importantly, Jarrian is husband to Krystal and father to Zion, whom he adores and sees as the greatest gifts that the Lord has blessed him with besides the grace of Jesus.
Justin Gates
Justin is the Executive Pastor of City of Refuge Church. A Georgia-native, Justin moved to Columbia to study at the University of South Carolina. It was during his time in college that Justin came to faith and experienced the love and hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
After graduating from college, Justin pursued a pastoral internship as he began to sense a call to ministry. Then, as Justin’s heart for the Eau Claire Neighborhood began to grow, he was sent out to join City of Refuge in December of 2022.
Justin has studied at the Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC, where he has begun his Master of Divinity Degree.