New Haven 828

Breakthrough in West Haven!!

Nearly two years to the day after purchasing a building in West Haven, Pastor Harmon Yalartai and the Faith Revival Temple Church finally received a green light to proceed last night.  After yet one more night of grilling and endless "what-if" scenarios, the West Haven Zoning Commission conditionally granted the church their approval.  We DO thank God! 

You can reach Pastor Harmon at hdyalartai@sbcglobal.net. He could use some post-victory encouragement.

Among the seemingly livable stipulations of the approval:

The church had to forego their right to rent out unused portions of the building, agree to submit revised site plans, obtain the City Engineers perspective on paving issues, and have a traffic study done after they have moved in.

It's a bittersweet victory, but victory nonetheless. Two years of financially draining, emotional battle has certainly taken a toll. On the surface, it certainly appears to this casual observer that West Haven has made a loud statement concerning their view of churches moving into town. 

If someone had the time, money, and energy, there might be reason to investigate what certainly smells like a case of bias against the church. But then again, the Lord has a thorough way of dealing with such matters.  Bless West Haven Lord! We pray that you would move mightily through all of the servants you have and will continue to place there.

Thinking of moving your ministry into West Haven? It better be a "God idea" and not simply a notion of your own. Pray hard and prepare for the battle of your life! 

Don't stop praying! For Pastor Miller and the Rock Tabernacle, the battle rages on. 

The problem is not simply a local one, there is a national battle being waged by Zoning Officials against churches everywhere. There's an interesting article here.

Sweet Hour of Prayer

It was another sweet hour of prayer for New Haven area clergy at the February 14, 2008 meeting.  Pictured, (l-r), are Elder Vincent Gilchrist and Pastor Jacki Gilchrist of Come as You Are Community of Faith Ministries, New Haven, CT., Rev. Bonita Grubbs of Christian Community Action, New Haven, CT., Pastor Rick Rocco of Frontline Ministries, Hamden, CT., Pastor Bill and Lainie Elander of Vineyard Christian Fellowship, West Haven, CT., Pastor Walter Williams of Walk of Faith Ministries, New Haven, CT., Pastor Harmon Yalartai of Faith Revival Temple Church of New Haven, CT.( soon to be of West Haven, CT.), Rev. Abraham Hernandez of Radio AMOR, New Haven CT., Pastor Bill Mathis of Springs of Life-Giving Water Ministries, New Haven, CT., Pastor Geoff Little of St.  James Episcopal Church, New Haven, Ct., and Pastors Leslie and Todd Foster of Church on the Rock, New Haven, CT.

Is the Pastorate a Pagan idea?

There's a reprint of a book called "Pagan Christianity" just out that deals with the issue of how far the Church has strayed from its roots.  It was first published in 2002, but makes a reappearance now with the endorsement of Researcher/Author George Barna.  Among the assertions made is that professional clergy were never intended to be a part of the church.

Just to give you a clue where the author is coming from, the first line of the book is,  "Not long after I left the institutional church to begin gathering with Christians in New Testament fashion…"

Click here to see a write-up on this controversial work from Christianity Today.

Pastor Jackson Senyonga

Pastor Jackson Senyonga is the leader of the Ugandan prayer movement featured on the widely acclaimed Transformation 2 Video produced by the Sentinel Group.

He is the pastor of Christian Life Church in Kampala, Uganda with a membership of more than 40,000 people and an average Sunday attendance of 22,000. The church has also planted more than 600 new churches and is building homes for widows and orphans.

Jackson Senyonga is coming to Connecticut for a Saturday morning breakfast meeting with area pastors/clergy on March 29, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. and a general session meeting the next evening, March 30 , at 7:00 p.m.  Meetings will be held at Church on the Rock, 95 Hamilton Street, New Haven, 06511.

Conference details can be found at www.rocknewhaven.org/senyonga.htm

More information about Jackson Senyonga is available at www.christianlifeministries.org.

Prayer Meeting

Prayer is always the second Thursday of each month

Next Date: February 14, 2008

Time: 10 A.M. for Prayer, 11 A.M for Discussion

Place: Church on the Rock, 95 Hamilton Street, New Haven

Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP.

Note: Attendance at prayer portion of meeting is necessary in order to take part on the discussion. This meeting is for Senior pastors and heads of para-church ministries.

Varick AME, 190 - New Pastor, 27

That's not the game score of competing forces, it's the relative ages of an old church and their new young leader. This afternoon, at a Meet and Greet service, Pastor Eldern Morrison was welcomed by the New Haven Community. He is Varick Memorial AME's 42nd pastor in it's 190 year history. This 27 year old has captured the hearts and restored the vision of "New Haven's oldest and most historic Black church."

Pastor Morrison is already loved and has been warmly embraced by the congregation.  He's a a dynamic preacher and a visionary with great plans in his heart and mind.

As he slipped it into high gear for the climax of his remarks, Pastor Morrison conceded that other candidates for the position may have had more experience and seemingly more to offer, but that he was, in the similitude of King David,  fully "available" to God for the work at hand!  You had to be there to understand why people were on their feet at this point cheering for both God and the young preacher from South Carolina.

It was obvious that in the city of New Haven, at a church called Varick AME Zion, that there was man sent from God whose name is Eldern. Clearly, he is called here to pastor.

Please keep Pastor Morrison and the Varick congregation in your prayers. Welcome, brother! May the honeymoon last forever....and whether it does or doesn't....we're here for you! 

West Haven on a (Steam) Roll???

UPDATE TO TONIGHT'S (2/13/08 7:30 PM) MEETING

Pastor Harmon has been removed from tonight's agenda in a two week delay.  There is a written opinion that the city is waiting for before they can proceed on his case.

Meanwhile, Pastor Miller from Rock Tabernacle is still on the agenda. We're praying for good news for him tonight .  We still plan to attend the meetings.  This is NOT a protest! We still plan to be there in support of the pastors involved and to see first-hand what is going on.  If for nothing else, we will be there in silent prayer and to be a silent witness to the city of West Haven that there are people who care. Wisdom in the face of the outcome in these cases will dictate where we go from here.  Our demeanor will be Christ-like and courteous.

Earlier this week, I asked if pastors and their people could support the plight of Pastor Harmon Yalartai and his Faith Revival Temple Church by showing up at this coming Wednesday night's Zoning Commission meeting in West Haven. The four responses included one commitment to pray (much appreciated and absolutely necessary!!) and 3 commitments to show up. One of the promises to appear was from a pastor who has no choice but to appear...he's in a fight with West Haven too!!!

Pastor Willis Miller of Rock Tabernacle (pictured to the right of Pastor Harmon above) has been in a battle with the city for an even longer life-choking period!!! Here are Pastor Miller's comments:

I will be there. The [church] Board and myself will be there because, as Pastor Harmon said, this is not just against him and his church, but against the Body of Christ. We (Rock Tabernacle Ministries) have been in a battle even longer [...than Faith Revival Temple].. Rock Tabernacle Ministries was approved and later our approval was revoked. We reapplied and were granted a new approval with several conditions. At this time the City is attempting to revoke our current approval and stop all work because a couple of conditions were not met according to their time line. We continue to seek your prayers and support as we are also on the agenda for February 13 public hearing.

One of the other pastors who promised to show up in support had this to say:

We will be there. We have been in meetings there with CCRN [another church) and others who West Haven is giving a hard time. You must know how they tried to stop Promise Land New Testament church [unsuccessfully!]. So yes we will be glad to come and show our support.

What will we do on Wednesday? Our biggest contribution will be to be prayerful and to be seen. Without making accusations, there is an unfortunate pattern against churches evolving in West Haven. Given the opportunity, we will express our concerns. The biggest discredit to the Church would be to give the impression that no one is watching and that no one cares! We are watching and we do care!

There is a rumor that Mayor Picard has made a public statement that he intends to stop any further churches from coming into West Haven. If anyone actually heard that statement made or knows someone who was there, now would be a great time to step forward. West Haven may be on a roll, but shame on us if we simply stand by and watch as it steamrolls right over us! Again, I cordially invite you to simply pray and be seen.....and please do invite those praying, observable people in your congregations to join us.

"Is there not a cause?"  (1 Samuel 17:29)

Yours in Him,

Pastor Todd Foster

Thanks in advance to those who plan on attending and to those who will keep it in prayer!

Pastor Needs our Help, NOW!

Will we take a stand? Pastor Harmon Yaltartai and the Faith Revival Temple Church have been in a choke hold by the city of West Haven, CT for nearly two years now. There's something terribly wrong with what appears to be a "delay them long enough and they'll either give up or fold" approach taken by the city.

Pastor Harmon is requesting that we show up for the next meeting scheduled with the zoning commission. I'll be there and hope to bring some of my folks with me. The following letter is from Pastor Harmon. Can we count on you?

Dear Pastor Todd:

Holy greetings in Jesus’ precious name! Little over a week ago, the New Haven Register captured the story of our ordeal with the West Haven Zoning Commission. The battle has been on for about two years and has drained us financially. We are hanging on by the grace and mercy of God.

The church has been held back for six parking spaces, which after many months of search and architectural work we have obtained! The commission is not happy and is still trying to find way to deny us the needed permit.

On Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 7:30 there will be public hearing at the West Haven City Hall on the second floor. We are kindly asking fellow pastors and members to turn out in our support. This is just not a battle for Pastor Harmon /Faith Revival Temple Church. The new ordinance passed by West Haven Zoning Commission showed that the city does not want churches to come in; this battle is against God’s Church.

Thanks in advance for your time and support, and we look forward to seeing you next Wednesday.

Truly in Christ,

Rev. Harmon D. Yalartai