The remnant of the 100-year old Advent Christian Church of Concord, NH gathered to decide their future. The 10-15 faithful brothers and sisters met in a special meeting. After serious deliberation and discussion, they decided to be a ministry rather than a museum. The men are asleep in the Lord, but several of the ladies continue to support New Life faithfully with their presence, their prayers, and their resources. We continue to esteem them highly as we honor their commitment and example of faithfulness.
New Life Fellowship was born in 1988. When Rev. Clint Tabor, the Eastern District Superintendent, appointed Bruce Jones to plant the fledgling church. He gathered the remaining members and invited YWAM (Youth With a Mission) to help them make 21,000 phone calls throughout the Capital Region, inviting residents to the first worship service. Our Prime-timers played a central role in this reformation of the new church and in the phone-outreach. The young Church met in the Rundlett Jr. High. Apparently, 7 people received Christ as a result of that first service.
In this young Church a solid, biblical foundation was laid. Pastor Jones sought to move the church into structural change to improve the quality of ministry. He instituted a small group ministry and trained leaders. As they continued to explore more biblical ways of “doing church,” he came across cell church materials. Seeing the biblical basis and value of this paradigm for reaching younger generations, he moved the church to find cell church leadership.
Pastor Jones left New Life in 1995 after having appointed a pastoral search committee. In 1996, the fellowship called Pastor David Alves to lead the church as Senior Pastor, with the assignment to transition New Life from a church with small groups into a cell church and provide visionary leadership.
Over the first seven years we transitioned into a cell church. God has solidified our Purpose, Mission, and Vision. We purchased a building, to become our Celebration Center, at 21 Dunklee Street in the summer of 2003 from Concord Bible Fellowship.
Our Father has built a covenant community. He moves in our midst to draw us to a deeper commitment and devotion to Him and one another. He has refined us and continues to do so. He is teaching us how to love “deeply from the heart” (1 Peter 1.22 & 4.8).
And now perhaps you are considering whether or not God is drawing/calling you to become a part of this remarkable history.
|
|