Church planting in Norwalk, CT
The Farquhar Family
We believe that, as the risen and ascended King, Jesus continues His mission to seek and to save the lost. This saving presence of Christ works powerfully wherever the gospel is proclaimed and embodied in the local church.
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:14-15
“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:32
“And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in that my house may be filled.” Luke 14:23
”The vigorous, continual planting of new congregations is the single most crucial strategy for 1) the numerical growth of the Body of Christ and 2) the continual corporate renewal and revival of existing churches. Nothing else–not crusades, outreach programs, para-church ministries, growing megachurches, congregational consulting, nor church renewal processes–will have the consistent impact of dynamic, extensive church planting.” - Tim Keller (PCA Pastor and Church Planter in NYC)
About us
Brandon and Rebecca grew up in Maryland and met in college through a Christian fellowship group. After getting married in 2005, they relocated to St. Louis to attend Covenant Seminary. Brandon is ordained in the Presbyterian Church in American (PCA) and has been serving in full-time ministry for the past 11 years in Connecticut, both within the local church and with FOCUS (a parachurch organization with the mission of student outreach and discipleship) where Rebecca also works as the Human Resources Manager. God has blessed us with four children: Connor (12), Riley (11), Aiden (9), and Aubrey (5).
Our Story
Having served in ministry in CT for the past 11 years, we are excited and grateful for how God continues to draw people to Jesus through His Spirit even in the increasing “unchurched” area of New England. We have enjoyed the challenge and opportunity of “building from scratch” as God opens up doors for honest and open conversations about the Christian faith.
Several years ago, through the encouragement of our local church, Grace Church Stamford, we began to prayerfully consider a call to church planting. As a church plant itself, Grace Church has a heart to see new gospel-preaching churches started in our neighboring cities and towns.
In 2020, Brandon and Rebecca attended the PCA’s Church Planting Assessment through Mission to North America (MNA) and were provisionally recommended for church planting with recommendations for continued training and growth.
Since then we have accepted a call as a Church Planting Apprentice with the church planting network, Mission Anabaino, based out of Christ Presbyterian Church in New Haven, Connecticut. Mission Anabaino has helped plant 25 churches, including 6 in southern CT. We are grateful for these local partners who have expressed this call and will support us through access to coaching, mentoring, and peer networks, in addition to a head-start with funding and people.
Why Norwalk?
In 2019 Barna research showed that 8 of the top 10 most “post-Christian” communities in America were in New England and neighboring New York State. In Connecticut, it is estimated that less than 5% of the population are connected to a gospel-preaching church. Norwalk in particular is a city of around 90,000 people, including around 33,000 who have no religious affiliation and have never attended a religious service. Yet, in Norwalk, there is not a single PCA church and there are only a few evangelical or reformed churches. It is estimated that in CT there is one gospel-preaching church for every 8,000 people.
There is a great need for the gospel of God’s grace in New England! Jesus is not done building His Church and we believe He has planted us in CT to serve His mission.
What kind of church?
We will be planting a PCA church that seeks a ”total Christ” ministry. Anabaino is the word Jesus used when “I am ascending” in John 20:17. Mission Anabaino is a vision and commitment to continue Jesus’ mission on earth under His leadership and with His methods. Jesus’ mission is not just what He did in the past nor just what He will do in the future, but also what He is doing in the present. Jesus’ vision is that he will do even greater things during His ascension ministry. But how?
In Ephesians 1, Paul describes Jesus’ ascended power at work within the church “which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all.” If Christ is alive and ascended and is ruling and active in His church in such a way that we have his fullness - all of Christ - what should our ministry look like?
The “Five Marks” of a “total Christ” ministry are a way of summarizing what the Bible says about what the Church is and what the Church does. These marks are seen in Scripture as the consistent ways that God has always worked in the plan of redemption fulfilled in Jesus.
Our desire is to be a church that, from the start, is accessible and responsive to under-reached areas of Norwalk so that people will be drawn into the full and saving presence of Jesus Christ.
Gospel-Centered (Covenant): God gives salvation by His gospel promises fulfilled in Jesus. This “good news,” IS grace — amazing, free, unlimited grace — such that where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more, and is received through faith alone!
Missional Presence (Temple): God gives his presence alongside His promises. We believe that local, Christ-centered, and apostolically designed churches are the very epicenter of Christ’s saving presence on earth “against which even the gates of hell cannot prevail!”
Confessional / Belief-Centered (Christ Our Prophet): God speaks through His Word in the presence of His people. We do not hear His Word alone, but rather, seek to read and interpret the Scripture with the help of Christians throughout time and space.
Sacramental (Christ Our Priest): Jesus leads us in a real connection and interaction with the living God. He leads us in partaking of His presence through the Lord’s Supper, but he also leads us in our praise, confession, blessing, etc. Jesus “not only makes us partakers of all his benefits, but also of himself” so that the church truly does experience and embody His fullness.
Communal (Christ Our King): Jesus rules and protects the church community through his under-shepherds, whom he has organized, called, and empowered. We live in close and sacrificial commitment to each other, compelled by the loving lordship of Christ, so that the spiritual realities God has achieved for us in Christ grow visible in the local church.
Will you partner with us so that together we can carry out Jesus’ mission in Norwalk?
Pray: We are seeking 300 prayer partners who will commit to praying for this Norwalk church plant. This team of people would commit to receiving our monthly prayer letters and would spend time each week praying for this ministry and our family.
Connect: To see this church plant get established, we need hundreds of people and several churches to be involved in this work. If you know of anyone passionate about God’s mission of building His church in Connecticut, please help us connect with them!
Give: We are trusting God to provide approximately $1,100,000 to support this mission church for four years. We need individuals and churches who will join us in this Gospel work. In particular we are hoping to fully raise $182,000 for our first year before starting work this fall. Would you prayerfully consider giving towards the planting of a Gospel-Centered church in Norwalk? Find out how to give or learn more here.
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