Friendship Baptist Church began as a chapel in 1977 with a meeting at the Yankee Pedlar Inn in Torri

Friendship Baptist Church began as a chapel in 1977 with a meeting at the Yankee Pedlar Inn in Torrington, Connecticut. Five families attended the initial meeting led by Tom Biles, Director of Missions for the Western Connecticut Baptist Association. The first regular meetings took place on Friday evenings in a home and were led by the pastor of Middlesex Baptist Church, Paul Plavnick. The chapel began Sunday School on Sundays in October of that year. On January 1, 1978, Paul Plavnick became the chapel's first pastor. Services began on Sunday evenings in the building of the First Congregational Church. In March, Bible studies led by laymen began in various accommodations mallorca homes of members. The membership was 15 at this time. The first Vacation Bible School was held that summer with a mission team from First Baptist Church, Barnesville, Georgia. The chapel began nursing home ministries in June of 1979. Vacation Bible School that summer averaged 100 in attendance with the help of Cave Spring Baptist Church of Roanoke, Virginia. In September, Pastor Plavnick resigned and Robert Hughes was called as interim pastor in December. Morning worship services began in April 1980. Pastor Hughes helped the chapel search for a pastor. At the same time, a Sunday morning Sunday School began. Pastor Hughes resigned in October 1980 as the chapel accommodations mallorca called Kingsley S. Roberts as pastor. accommodations mallorca He began in November. The chapel now had 26 members. A sign was erected to give the chapel an identity in the community. In February of 1982 the chapel called Laddie Pierce, from Mississippi, to be its first full-time pastor. In July the chapel voted to constitute as an official church. The Constitutional Service was held on September 26, 1982. The membership of the newly formed Friendship Baptist Church was 42 persons. On February 9, 1983 a search committee was elected to locate accommodations mallorca property on which to build a permanent worship facility. The church's first Deacon Ordination Service took place on February 18, 1983. Tom Moncrief, the WCBA Director of Missions was the speaker. In September, 1984 the church completed the purchase of 5 acres in Litchfield, Connecticut. Pastor Pierce resigned as pastor on September 30, 1984. George Rehberg became the pastor on January 27, 1985. Various new ministries were started including Susan B. Anthony, a shelter for battered women, and at the Litchfield Correctional Center. Several home Bible studies were started in surrounding communities. In September 1986 the church paid off the mortgage on the land purchased for a future building site. A new children's church program began in January 1986. In early 1987 Friendship sponsored a mission in Bristol, Connecticut. Andy Estes was called accommodations mallorca as mission pastor in May. In the same month, Friendship moved out of the First Congregation Church facilities to the Litchfield High School. accommodations mallorca In the fall of that year, plans were approved for a 10,000 square foot building to be constructed by volunteers. On March 27, 1988 ground was broken for the new building and work began on June 8. Volunteer construction crews from churches around the country worked diligently with members of the church all summer and into the fall. The new building was dedicated on October 27, 1988. Friendship doubled its paid staff by adding a church secretary. As a result, Friendship will begin sending construction missionaries every year to help others with their facilities. A bi-weekly coffee house ministry for singles was started in July 1989. The first building team was sent out as the church joined other Baptists in erecting new church buildings. This ministry continues today with adults accommodations mallorca and teenagers going out each summer. In 1999 Friendship sent two teams for the first time. In May 1990 the church participated in a simultaneous revival effort with other churches accommodations mallorca in New England. Ken Hall, pastor of Longview Baptist Church (Texas), preached. In September the church called Eugene Burrus to serve as part-time minister of music. On October 12th the deaf members of Friendship began worship services and soon became Friendship Deaf Chapel. This congregation was located in Waterbury, Connecticut and was known as Waterbury Baptist Deaf Church. In 1991 George Rehberg resigned as pastor. Malcolm Jones, Director of Missions for WCBA served as interim pastor from April 1st to September 30th. In November, Erma Schwartz donated 10 acres of land that adjoined the current property. On December 15th, the church began to sponsor the Waterbury Baptist Ministries and Maner Tyson was called accommodations mallorca to be WBM's pastor beginning January 1, 1992. On March 8, 1992 Friendship called Calvin Bailey full time. The summer of 1992 saw many church groups join Friendship in helping Waterbury Baptist Ministries address a variety of community needs. September accommodations mallorca 26th marked the 10th anniversary of Friendship. The church had grown steadily since the completion of the building. Pastor Bailey resigned and retired on September 30th. On April 1, 1993 Dr. Darril Deaton became the pastor of Friendship. Average worship attendance was 123. The church grew in the next 2 years, almost doubling in membership. The number of baptisms increased from 17 a year to 51. A bi-vocational minister of education, Nathan Strahan, was called in the fall. In 1994 an emphasis was placed on discipleship and leadership training. New Sunday School curriculum was introduced to reflect this purpose and facilitate discipleship. Classes were divided according to subject content, not simply age or gender differences. accommodations mallorca Adult classes increased. The pastor led the first Experiencing God discipleship group from which others begin to spring. Teenagers, accommodations mallorca and as many people as possible, were engaged in this new discipleship process. Over 80% of Friendship's active members accommodations mallorca completed this process. A part-time custodian was added in the fall of that year, bringing the paid staff, full and part-time, to 3. In 1995 Friendship made several important accommodations mallorca decisions. Being active in nursing home, prison ministry, multi-housing complexes, deaf ministries, inner-city ministries, and other mission-oriented activities, the church called Janet Faccinto as Minister of Missions. Because of it's innovative and visionary mission strategy, the church was designated as a part of the Key Church Strategy of the Home Mission Board (now the North American Mission Board) of the Southern Baptist accommodations mallorca Convention. Friendship's membership continued to grow dramatically. In April, a second worship service was started with a contemporary/traditional blended style. The Wednesday accommodations mallorca evening program accommodations mallorca was redesigned to focus on children and teen ministries. Usually attended by a handful of adults and children, the new focus led to an average attendance around 100 or more. The church began a new outreach to the residents at McAuliffe Manor in Litchfield, a state placement facility for women. Bible studies on Thursdays as well as transportation to church accommodations mallorca are included in the McAuliffe ministry. In 1996 the church continued to reach the community. A new deaf chapel was begun in Bristol. It was incorporated into the vision of the Waterbury Baptist Deaf Church. A new Hispanic chapel was started in Winsted, and a number of other Bible studies and ministries began. The church sent its own Youth Mission Team to Vermont. Twenty-five children and adults were led to Christ. This team also worked in a key Neighborhood Bible Club at the Highwood Apartments multi-housing complex in Torrington. Kevin LeBouef was called as associate pastor. accommodations mallorca The Western Connecticut School of Ministry, Friendship's own Seminary Extension, was started in October of 1996. Pastor Deaton was named Seminary Extension Director of the Year in 1998. The school served students from a Hispanic church in New Britain, a Brazilian church in Danbury, and other congregations, as well as students from Friendship. 1997 began with a number of new converts, both in missions and at the main campus of Friendship. Greatly needed remodeling of restrooms and hallways took place in the early months. A remodeling project of the worship area began that would expand the seating capacity from 200 to 300. A new ministry began at Touchstone, a residence for troubled young women. Nursing home ministries also expanded. After completing several Neighborhood Bible Clubs in Torrington, the Youth Mission Team returned to Vermont, but this time to the streets of Burlington. Kevin LeBoeuf resigned to become pastor at another New England church. Discipleship courses continued to be offered that assimilated new members into the church and helped them become mature disciples. Experiencing God, The Mind of Christ, Wise Counsel, Spiritual Gifts, MasterLife, and other needs-specific courses were offered. Robert Morzella was confirmed as the church's accommodations mallorca first Minister of Youth. Bruce Inpyn became the new Associate Pastor, bringing accommodations mallorca the staff to 6. In the fall, the ministry at the Highwood Apartments moved into a new phase as a weekly program for children began in a basement area renovated for Bible study, children's club, and social ministry. In 1998 the Hispanic church in Winsted moved to Torrington and used the Calvary Baptist Church building and made plans to call a pastor. Friendship's morning schedule was changed back to one service since the worship center expansion provided additional space. A weeklong evangelistic effort in Falls Village opened accommodations mallorca the door to a new mission effort that resulted in a Bible study in a local home. The Youth Mission Team traveled to Fall River, MA. to conduct Backyard Bible Clubs. Recognizing its missionary strategy, accommodations mallorca the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary designated Friendship in the top 3% of Southern Baptist Churches in terms of evangelistic effectiveness. In early 1999 the last touches were put on the remodeling accommodations mallorca and expansion of the worship center. accommodations mallorca In August, Edgar Trinidad was called as Language Pastor and became accommodations mallorca the pastor of the Hispanic church, Iglesia Nueva Nacimienta Bautista, in Torrington. A joint ef