About
It began with a family that simply wanted a place to worship God.
Disciple Parish did not begin with a large congregation, a finished Sanctuary, or even a building that looked like a church.
It began with a family that simply wanted a place to worship God.
Before Disciple Parish was established, Evangelist Isaac Edwards Sr. and his family traveled long distances to worship at other Celestial Church of Christ parishes. At times, the journey could take two to three hours. As the distance became increasingly difficult, especially for the children, a desire began to grow: there should be a place in Connecticut where Celestians could worship without having to travel so far.
That desire led the family to begin searching for a place of their own.
Before there was a congregation to fill the church, the church already had a name.
Disciple Parish.
The name Disciple Parish was given spiritually by the Lord to Evangelist Isaac Edwards Sr. as the name the church should bear.
What the family could not yet see was just how much would grow from that beginning.
In September 2005, the property that would become Disciple Parish was acquired.
It did not look much like a church.
The building had previously been a manufacturing facility where bits for tools were produced. The former owner was preparing to retire and initially hoped that whoever purchased the property might also take over the business. While the family had no intention of entering the manufacturing business, they saw something different in the property: the possibility of a place to worship God.
After an agreement was reached, the machinery and equipment were removed, and the work of transforming the former industrial building into a place of worship began.
There was much work to be done.
Years of manufacturing had left residue throughout the building. The interior had to be power washed, cleaned and painted, and work was needed on the floors.
During the process, another challenge became apparent. Water accumulated on portions of the floor. To address the problem and create a suitable place for worship, the worship area was elevated and a raised floor was constructed. A Mercy Land was also established alongside it.
Little by little, the building began to change.
A place once filled with machinery was becoming a House of God.
By approximately February 2006, after months of cleaning and preparing the property, the family began praying and worshipping in the building.
There was no large congregation.
There were no rows filled with people.
There was simply a family, grateful to finally have a place where they could come together and worship God.
For Evangelist Isaac Edwards Sr., having a place where his family could go and pray was the great joy of those early days.
But the story did not end with one family.
The family began to grow.
One of the earliest people to join them in worship was Samuel, from Ivory Coast. Through him, others were introduced to the small gathering. One person became two. Two became three. And gradually, more people came.
They came from different households, but within Disciple Parish, they were becoming one church family.
September 2005
The property that would become Disciple Parish is acquired.
February 2006
Prayer and worship begin in the newly prepared building.
May 2006
The church is officially dedicated and recognized within Celestial Church of Christ as Disciple Parish.
In May 2006, the church was officially dedicated and recognized within Celestial Church of Christ as Disciple Parish.
What had begun months earlier with a family searching for somewhere closer to worship had become something more.
A family that once traveled hours to find a place to worship now had a place to call home.
A building that once housed industrial machinery had become a House of God.
A place once filled with the sounds of manufacturing was now filled with prayer, hymns, and worship.
And a gathering that began with one family had become Celestial Church of Christ Disciple Parish.
Disciple Parish began with one family's desire for a place to worship God together.
There were no crowds in the beginning. There was faith, a building that needed to be transformed, a family willing to do the work, and a place where they could finally gather in prayer.
Then others came.
The family grew.
That beginning continues to shape who we are today. Disciple Parish is more than a place where we gather for worship. We are one family—united in Christ, growing together in faith, encouraging one another, and sharing in the love of God.
Much has changed since those first prayers in 2006. More people have walked through the doors. More voices have joined in worship. More memories have been made within these walls.
But the heart of the story remains the same.
One family came together to worship God.
By His grace, the family grew.