About LWM » History
Pastors Richard and Adrienne Mallette Sr.
Living Word Ministries began in 1978 with four people as a small Bible study in the home of our founder Dr. Richard Mallette. Eventually the Bible study out grew the Mallette’s home and moved to its 2nd location on Campbell Avenue where we rented the Church of God which held about 60 people. The church met here for two months, again outgrowing the space and moving to our 3rd location the Disabled American Veterans’ Hall or DAV as we fondly called it. The hall seated about 150.
Disabled American Veterans’ Hall
In April of 1981, Living Word Ministries was officially incorporated and recognized by the federal and state government as a tax exempt organization. Pastor Mallette was ordained by local clergy in May of 1981. As the ministry grew, we moved to our 4th location the New Haven Motor Inn where the church thrived and continued to grow. One year later we were on the move again to our 5th location on Campbell Avenue at the abandoned Italian Villa Restaurant. After remodeling the building, we outgrew this space in eight months.
Bull Hill Lane facility
Looking for more room to expand, we relocated to Elm Street into the A& P building next to Rocklen Auto Parts. Living Word Ministries resided here for four-and-a-half years growing in size from 300 to 600 members until moving to our 7th location and our first permanently owned home on six acres of land on Bull Hill Lane. This was the home of Living Word Ministries from July of 1988 to October of 2000. To accommodate our continued growth, we purchased 36 acres on Meloy Road in West Haven, formerly the Soundview Farm. In October of 2000 we moved into our new 73,000 square foot building.
Current Church Building on Meloy Road
Pastor Ken and Kathy Vance
In November of 2004, after 25 plus years of full-time ministry, Richard and Adrienne Mallette turned the church over to Kenen Vance. Ordained by Pastor Mallette into the ministry in 1997, Pastor Vance has been a part of Living Word since 1981 as a member, elder, associate pastor and now Senior Pastor. Today, he and his wife Kathy oversee a thriving multi-cultural congregation of 1,500 people reaching over 50 cities and towns throughout the State of Connecticut.
In 2008, Living Word launched its “Moving Forward” Capital Campaign which has allowed us to put in a state-of-the-art sound system, add a coffee cafe and a professionally-rendered children’s wing complete with a kid’s theatre and video game area. We are so excited about what God is doing here at Living Word. Our future is bright! Pastor Ken and Kathy invite you to join us as we move forward to write the next chapter in our story!
