Culture Changing Christians is the non-profit arm of Carl Day’s church, Culture Changing Christians Worship Center, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ¹ The organization runs various youth programs designed to keep Philadelphia youth in school and on the path to a career or higher education. ¹

In addition to youth programming, Culture Changing Christians operates the Beat The Block project organization. ¹ Beat The Block is a direct-intervention organization that seeks to assist high-risk men between the ages of 18-24, often affected and impacted by violence, to become employed and obtain financial independence. ²

Finances

In 2021, Culture Changing Christians received $803,000 in contributions, ³ distributed $340,000 in grants for its Beat The Block project, ⁴ incurred $644,116 in total expenses, ⁵ and held $158,884 in net assets. ⁶

Youth Group

Culture Changing Christians, through its Castoffs to Conquerors Youth Mentoring project, provides youth programming for youth in Philadelphia. ¹ These programs include lunch programs, tutoring, and free of charge summer field trips. ¹ The program also includes service days where members conduct outreach programs in the city of Philadelphia. ¹

Beat The Block

Beat The Block is a Culture Changing Christians program that targets high-risk men between the ages of 18-24, often affected by violence, and seeks to put them on the path to employment, improvement, and financial independence. ²

The project states that it has held over 148 hours of programmatic trainings, 40 hours of direct career development coaching, and has assisted 68 men through its program. ⁷

Leadership

Culture Changing Christians is led by its founder, pastor Carl Day. ⁸ Day is the pastor of Changing Christians Worship Center in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The church operates in a neighborhood harmed by the opioid epidemic and that is “plagued by gun violence.” ⁸ Day has stated that his ministry is centered around helping young men escape gun violence, poverty, addiction, and incarceration. ⁸ Day was charged with attempted murder at 23 and arrested for armed robbery. ⁹

Day is notable criticizing former President Donald Trump during the 2020 presidential election race at a town hall in Philadelphia. ¹⁰ At the town hall, Day stated that the slogan “MAGA” (Make America Great Again) is tone-deaf and cannot resonate with African Americans. ¹⁰

1.  “About Us.” Culture Changing Christians. https://partnerwithccc.org/about-us
2. “Homepage.” Beat The Block. https://beattheblock.org/
3. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Culture Changing Christians. Part I, Line 8. 2021.
4. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Culture Changing Christians. Part I, Line 13. 2021.
5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Culture Changing Christians. Part I, Line 18. 2021.
6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Culture Changing Christians. Part I, Line 22. 2021.
7. “Impact Facts.” Beat The Block. https://beattheblock.org/stories-%26-stats
8. McNamee, Kai. “Philly’s ‘pastor of the hood’ Carl Day weighs in on the 2024 election.” NPR. September 20, 2023. Accessed May 21, 2024. https://www.wusf.org/2023-09-20/phillys-pastor-of-the-hood-carl-day-weighs-in-on-the-2024-election
9. Gilber, Marsha. “Philly pastor who confronted Trump fights gun violence on city streets and over Zoom.” PBS – WHYY. September 26, 2020. Accessed May 21, 2024. https://whyy.org/articles/philly-pastor-who-confronted-trump-fights-gun-violence-on-city-streets-and-over-zoom/
10. Stracqualursi, Veronica. “Black pastor said he ‘wasn’t satisfied at all’ with Trump’s answer on racial problems.” CNN. September 16, 2020. Accessed May 21, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/16/politics/black-pastor-carl-day-trump-town-hall-race-cnntv/index.html