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Gospel Light Community Church had its’ first official service on June 6, 1982, the vision and burden for planting a church in Bridgeport, CT was quickened by the Spirit of God in the hearts of Bro. David Shenk, then Home Ministries Director of Eastern Mennonite Missions and Pastor Glenn and Linda Reynolds of the Mennonite Bible Fellowship Church in New Haven. At the same time, Pastor James Miller who was serving the Lord as an Assistant Pastor at Joy Fellowship Church in the Bronx, New York felt the Spirit leading them to pastor a new work. Through God’s direct leading, the three were brought together and the call to go to Bridgeport was given to the Miller’s. With a definite sense of the Spirit’s leading, Pastor James and Andrea Miller moved to Bridgeport three months later with their two sons Joshua then 18 months and Joel, two months old. They moved to a city, not knowing anyone, yet trusting God to brig forth the vision that He had put in their hearts. Their vision was to see God raise up a church made up of many different ethnic and racial groups that would minister life, hope, and healing to the city. Within two weeks, a small group Bible study started in the living room of the Miller’s apartment. The new church had its first official Sunday Celebration two months later. The next month, the Lord supernaturally provided a meeting place at the Red Cross building, then located at 2400 Main Street. During this time, the Lord sent helpers, including Pastor Miller’s parents and raised up some members who are still a part of the church today. In December 1984, our present place of worship was purchased at 222 Charles Street and in December 1991 the adjacent property and building at 41 Federal Street was bought by the church.

Over the years we have seen the faithfulness of the Lord in raising up a church made up of brothers and sisters of many ethnic backgrounds. Pastor James Miller continues to serve as Senior Pastor. Two associate Pastors were called in June of 2000: Pastor Pedro Vazquez and Pastor Winston Gordon. Pastor Pedro and his wife Amy Vazquez continue to serve the congregation as Assistant Pastor. Pastor Winston Gordon and wife Ingrid Gordon now Pastors of our daughter church: Beacon of Light Community Church in Waterbury, Ct. Their inaugurate service took place on December 8, 2002.

In 2002, our fellowship of churches formed the Harvest Fellowship of Churches, a nondenominational group of Evangelical Anabaptist congregations and we are a participating member congregation with them.

In 2005, we launched into a new direction. The Lord led the leadership of Gospel Light Community Church to refocus our cell-based church to become a cell-based church which practices the principal of 12 that Jesus demonstrated as a strategy to win souls and make disciples. We started our school of leadership and opened women’s, men’s, and youth cell groups. In October 2005, we led our first men’s encounter which was followed by women’s and youth encounters. On November 27, 2005, Andrea Miller was commissioned as our first women’s network Pastor.

On January 1, 2006, Elyano Nascimento was commissioned as our youth network Pastor. The church has been seeking to please the Lord and has been faithful to seek to glorify the Lord, and to fulfill the great commission of Jesus. (Matthew 28:18-20)


We thank God for all ministry leaders and members who have freely given themselves to this congregation and the work of the ministry here at Gospel Light Community Church. We continue to look forward in faith as we seek our Lord Jesus together!