After three years of growth saw Elevate Life Church CT in Wallingford, Connecticut, explode from 70 people on launch day to over 2,000 people, Lead Pastor Jeremy Baker is in awe. Not only is that sort of growth almost unheard of, but that sort of growth in New England is thought to be impossible.
“We’re just in this crazy move of God that I’m just trying to wrap my head around. To be honest with you, as a church planter, I’m blown away. And I thank God every day for the privilege to be in ministry and to do what I’m doing. I’m very humbled and grateful,” he says.
While his wife grew up in the region, Baker spent his entire ministry life in churches large and small in Dallas, a city with its own culture almost as distinct from Connecticut as a foreign country.
Baker was undaunted by the culture shift. “[New England] is one of the most unchurched regions. My wife and I thought, You know, if we were ever gonna make an impact, let’s go for it.”
He stands amazed at how God has blessed the determined grit of their planting team. Like an offering on an altar, they have brought faith, hard work and a devotion to evangelism before the Lord, and he has blessed it.
Their approach is intentional but simple: “We’re constantly asking, ‘Who are you bringing?’ People are inviting their co-workers, their neighbors, their relatives, people they meet in the grocery store, and people off the street. I think that’s been part of a practical success strategy for us.”
Baker credits the life-giving nature of their culture as another practical step toward growth. “When you walk into the church, I want you to feel life, I want you to feel joy, I want you to feel enthusiasm, I want you to feel passion, I want you to feel you can be welcome here, you can grow your family here, you can develop here, and you can spiritually grow. It doesn’t start in the pulpit; it starts in the parking lot.”
The last (but not least) practical step? Good, old-fashioned soul winning. “We’ve been about reaching people,” he emphasizes. “God will bring the resources, God will bring the right leaders, and God will do what we need him to do from a practical standpoint, but we have got to keep the main thing the main thing.”
Tyler Crawford, Elevate’s next-gen pastor, came from Texas to plant with Baker. He caught the vision for what God could do in New England despite others’ skepticism.
“At the end of the day, we’re being obedient, and God blesses obedience,” Crawford says. “We’re not here because this is the cool place to be. We’re here because God called us to be here. So, let’s run it. That’s really been our MO this whole time. People might not be able to understand what we feel like God’s spoken to us, and that’s OK because it’s crazy until it happens. So, let’s just keep being crazy.”
He recounts a particular story of radical change from the church’s first year. A young man, dressed head to toe in goth black, showed up at an outreach event for a free meal. He had been a satanist, but was now spiritually adrift, trying to figure out his worldview. He found openness from Crawford and other churchgoers, so he kept returning.
The young man later explained that because he didn’t experience the rejection he expected, given how he presented himself, he kept attending. He opened up more, finding a place in the church community, and he eventually dedicated his life to Jesus.
“And now, to this day, he’s still serving with us,” Crawford shares. “He serves on our production team, and has given his life completely to the Lord. He still loves to dress in black, and we love that. He loves Jesus, knows who his Savior is, and he’s on the journey with us.”
Because of the numerical growth, the church can afford to substantially impact their local community through food ministry and even more specific financial blessings.
“A mom here just lost her son,” Baker relates. “We were able to pay for the funeral because of our resources; and that kind of stuff, to me, is what the church is all about.”
The resources also mean that the church can physically grow. They just finished the paperwork on a $2 million expansion of their current space to make room for the current growth as well as the growth they anticipate in the years to come.
Staff leaders are working out programs to disciple the hundreds of people who have come to faith in the last three years. Many of their structures and systems are in flux, but Baker is just as undaunted now as he was when they made the 1,600-mile move from Texas.
“I think God honors risk and steps of faith,” he reflects. “I still believe that if you’ll just take a step—maybe not seeing the whole staircase, but just keep taking one step at a time—you’ll eventually get to that place that God has for you. I just keep thinking, Trust the process. People are going to come, people are going to go, but leave the key under the mat. Love people well, serve people well. Make sure you take care of your family.”
Simple, intentional and faithful. That has made all the difference at Elevate Life Church CT.
ELEVATE LIFE CT
Wallingford, Connecticut
Pastor: Jeremy Baker
Website: ElevateLifeCT.com
Denomination: Nondenominational
Founded: 2022
Fastest-Growing: 4