One of the things we like to do at Resurgence is equip, encourage, and pray for pastors and leaders in various churches around the world. This week we are glad to introduce you to Pastor Mark Turcio and New Life Bible Church in Hamden, Connecticut.

New Life Bible Church is a small congregation meeting in Hamden, Connecticut. They have been through some ups and downs since their church was planted, but Jesus is at work.

A brief history of New Life Bible Church

Starting in the mid-1990s, the congregation met in various locations, including a restaurant, a home, and a YMCA building. When their pastor was called elsewhere, Pastor Mark Turcio was asked to step in and lead. Even though he was also a pastoring a church in another town about an hour’s drive away, Pastor Turcio sensed God leading him to accept the call, and he began pastoring both congregations in 2012.

At this point, New Life Bible Church was a small congregation with little money, and they were meeting in a YMCA where they could not stay for long.

They needed a new place to meet, and the only thing Pastor Turcio knew to do was pray.

God provides for every need

Then God started providing. A local pastor connected them with a fireman, who offered to let the congregation meet in the local firehouse.

New Life Bible Church continued to trust God. Their pastor worked a day job painting in order to support the ministry and continued to serve two churches—and God continued to provide through generous donors.

New Life Bible Church has been through some ups and downs since their church was planted, but Jesus is at work.

Jesus is at work

God has provided for every need and has been transforming lives in this community, bringing people to faith in Jesus. As Pastor Turcio puts it, “They read the Bible not as editors, but as children learning more about Jesus and growing in the love for the saints. They are eager to pray to the Lord and depend upon him for all things.”

God has also been at work redeeming brokenness with the gospel of Jesus. Pastor Turcio says, “The Lord has been bringing in people struggling with various addictions. God is restoring lives, bringing purpose, and developing people’s identity in Christ.”

God has provided for every need and has been transforming lives in this community, bringing people to faith in Jesus.

Join us in prayer for New Life Bible Church

Please pray with us for New Life Bible Church. Here’s how they asked us to pray:

1. Leaders. “Pray that the Lord will raise up faithful, missional-minded leaders who love Jesus and are built on the apostles, prophets, and Jesus Christ himself as the chief cornerstone.”

2. New space to worship. “Within the next year and a half we are looking to move New Life Bible Church from the suburb to the city. We are looking for a place to worship and praying within the next several years work our way up the coast by planting churches, starting in Connecticut.”

3. Openness to change. “Pray that our church will seek the changes necessary to grow even further.”

4. Finances. “Pray that the Lord will provide the funds or painting work so that I can continue serving the two churches on one part-time salary.”

5. Church planting opportunies. “Pray also for a possible church plant in Vernon, Connecticut.”

Praying for Jesus’ Church is a series we started to encourage prayer for various churches around the world. It’s not necessarily an endorsement for every church. New Life Bible Church utilizes Mars Hill Campaigns, free resources for your church and ministry. Learn more about Mars Hill Campaigns.