Vision Statement
To inspire and equip millions of believers globally to identify their gifting and train them to fulfill their God-given destiny for the advancement of the Kingdom of God, bringing wholeness the total man
About Family Church
The Family of God held its first service on February 23, 1997, at 135 Burnside Avenue in East Harford, CT, in a Commercial Office Suite. The church was the inspiration of Dr. Aaron Lewis, a prolific writer, and entrepreneur who, at that time, was traveling throughout the United States and the Caribbean Islands conducting mass healing services, to crowds of hundreds and thousands of people. From its very beginnings, The Family of God distinguished itself as a church whose purpose was to help draw out God’s best from within its parishioners. Dr. Lewis realized early on that many people were not clear on why they were here on earth. Because of that, people tended to move aimlessly throughout life, performing monotonous routines daily yet never seeing any lasting change.
Realizing this, Dr. Lewis began to examine why some people experience happy and fulfilled lives while others fail to become pleased and contented with their present condition. He began to teach a series on Discovering Your Destiny. It was in this period that The Family of God gained its identity as a local church and its place within the universal church. People of all walks and backgrounds would come and experience substantial changes in their lives as they began to receive clarity concerning their purpose and potential.
We became a church widely known for our emphasis on Total Healing & Divine Destiny and also for having an ardent interest in education and achievement. Dr. Lewis teaches that we should live by the formula God + Education = Success in Life. He has also instilled in our congregation that genuine success is not measured in the accumulation of earthly treasures but rather in experiencing an abundant life and fulfilling God’s purpose. Hence, our standard for measuring growth is through evaluating the spiritual and personal growth of each of our parishioners from the time they connected with our community up until to the present moment. If they grew by implementing those principles, then The Family of God grew simultaneously as well.
Our church grew spiritually, developmentally, and numerically within the first two years, as we outgrew 135 Burnside Avenue and then moved to 1162 Burnside Avenue in 1999 to a five-thousand square foot facility. Our children’s ministry, Kingdom Kids, grew exponentially at this location to serve numerous children and families in the Greater Hartford region. We also professionally trained all our staff at the One-Eighty Youth Ministry in Tulsa, Oklahoma, under the leadership of Pastor Willie George. Our children and teenage ministries became the strength of our ministry.
It was at this location that we began ordination classes for those who responded to the call to ministry. Before being considered for ministry, all ordination candidates were required to complete an extensive three-year pedagogical training where they learned Catechism, Biblical History, and Church Polity & Procedures. As Elder, we ordained Elder JoAnna Laiscell and licensed Deacon Anthony Brooks under the auspices of Archbishop LeRoy Bailey Jr., Senior Pastor of The First Cathedral in Bloomfield, CT and Chief Catechizer, the late Rev. Dr. Horace Holloman.
In November of 2006, The Family of God relocated to Glastonbury, CT. It was here that our name became Family Church. Today, our vision is still the same, and with a more intense desire and greater clarity, we pursue opportunities to help people come into a more meaningful existence on earth. We desire everyone to know their divine reason for being and send them out into the world to take action.
Dr. Lewis wholeheartedly believes and teaches Family Church that social responsibility and Christian witness are interchangeable terms. We believe that, according to our biblical mandate, all people who desire to be Christ-like must take an active stand against all injustices, pursue peace, stand up for human rights, and educate the masses.
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:35-40 (RSV)