Honoring Our Founders

Dare to Imagine Church was founded on a bold vision, unwavering faith, and a deep commitment to sharing the love of Jesus Christ. In 2014, Pastors Kevin and Kimya Johnson stepped out in obedience to God's calling and invited a small group of people into their home to hear the vision the Lord had placed on their hearts—a contemporary, Christ-centered church that would transform lives, strengthen families, and impact communities throughout Philadelphia and beyond.

What began with just 20 people gathered around a God-given dream quickly became a movement. On December 28, 2014, Dare to Imagine held its first worship experience in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, where 72 people attended and 57 became founding members. Through faithful leadership, passionate worship, biblical teaching, and a culture of love and service, the church experienced remarkable growth in its early years.

Under the leadership of Pastors Kevin and Kimya, Dare to Imagine expanded from a temporary worship location in West Philadelphia to the purchase of a 6.8-acre campus in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia in 2017. What started as a vision shared in a living room grew into a thriving church family that has impacted thousands of lives through ministry, outreach, discipleship, and community engagement.

Today, as Dare to Imagine continues to grow and reach new generations, we honor the foundation laid by our founders. Their faith, sacrifice, and obedience helped establish a church rooted in the belief that God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask, think, or imagine. Their legacy lives on through every life changed, every family restored, and every person who encounters the love of Christ through this ministry.

We remain grateful for the vision of Pastors Kevin and Kimya Johnson and celebrate the incredible story God began through them—a story that continues to unfold as we pursue all that He has prepared for His people. 

As Scripture reminds us in 1 Corinthians 2:9:

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love Him."

Because of their faith to dare to imagine, countless others have discovered what is possible when God is at the center of the vision. Their impact will continue to be felt for generations to come.