About LWM » New to Living Word?

  • Why the name “Living Word Ministries”?

    We believe the Bible is a living, active book, “the living Word” spoken by God to man and that it will minister to and provide the answers for every situation in life. Hence the name Living Word Ministries. We invite people to come experience the genuine love of God, who has spoken to them through His Word in order that they might have a fulfilling and satisfying life!

  • How long has the church been in existence?

    Living Word has been in the greater New Haven area since 1981.

  • What are your service times?

    • Sunday Service: 9:00 a.m.
      • Pre-Service Prayer: 8:30 a.m., Chapel
      • Discovery Cove Preschool (Newborn – Kindergarten)*: 9:00 a.m., Preschool Wing
      • Fusion Children’s Church (1st – 6th grade): 9:00 a.m., Multi-purpose Room
    • Sunday Service: 11:00 a.m.
      • Pre-Service Prayer: 10:30 a.m., Chapel
      • Discovery Cove Preschool (Newborn – Kindergarten)*: 11:00 a.m., Preschool Wing
      • Fusion Children’s Church (Grades 1 – 6): 11:00 a.m., Multi-purpose Room
      • Chosen Jr. High (Grades 7 – 12): 11:00 a.m., Teen Center
    • Wednesday Service: 7:00 p.m.
      • Pre-Service Prayer: 6:30 p.m., Chapel
      • Discovery Cove PreSchool (Newborn – Kindergarten)*: 7:00 p.m.
      • Fusion Children’s Church (Grades 1 – 6): 7:00 p.m.
      • Chosen Jr. High (Grades 7 – 12): 7:00 p.m.
    • *Parents, please come to Children’s Check-in Center in the Concourse for more information and to register.

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  • How can I get directions to Living Word?

    Get directions here.

  • Where do I park?

    We want you to feel right at home from the moment you arrive. Our friendly traffic team will direct you for easy entrance and egress from our campus. To make your experience more enjoyable, parking for services is as follows:

    • Friday Night Service – Open parking lot
    • Sunday 8:30 a.m. Service – Park in the left side lot
    • Sunday 11:00 a.m. Service – Park in the right side lot

  • What attire should I wear?

    You may be wondering, do I wear “Sunday best,” business casual or jeans? The answer to all of these is yes! We want you to be comfortable, so feel free to come as you are!

    # “I can dress in a way that is comfortable for me!”

  • What can I expect when I visit?

    Greeters will welcome you at the doors and point you in the right direction. Ask about the location of our information centers so we can assist you with directions or answer any questions you may have. If you have children, you'll want to take advantage of our safe and secure children's services designed just for them. As you enter our Sanctuary, you will receive our weekly bulletin with church services and other related information. Ushers are available and ready to assist you to your seat. Then, sit back, relax, and enjoy the service!

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  • What do you do about visitors?

    If this is your first, second or third time visiting us, we would like to honor you with a gift and personally thank you for being our guest. When you visit, please fill out the perforated visitor card located on the inside flap of our bulletin and turn it in at our Welcome Center which is located in the center of our concourse just outside the center Sanctuary doors.

  • Will you embarrass me?

    As our guest, we want you to be comfortable. You won’t be asked to stand up or anything like that.

  • Who attends Living Word?

    When you attend Living Word, the first thing you'll notice is the diversity of cultures that make up our church family. We believe God’s Word and His Kingdom are for ALL people – regardless of age, family background, income, or culture. We are strategic in having a multicultural congregation purposefully reaching out to all cultures to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. We think LWM looks just like heaven does – filled with every kindred, tribe, and nation… and we think you’ll fit right in!

    # “We feel like we fit right in!”

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  • What does a weekend service look like?

    Whether it is your first time at Living Word, or you've been attending for years, you never know what to expect during our hour and a half service. From the moment you walk in the door, until the moment you leave, we are committed to a creative, compelling, challenging presentation of God's truth.

    Pastor Ken Vance communicates in a way that speaks to today's culture. Pastor focuses on how to apply Christ’s teachings to our lives, so we each can experience God's incredible purpose each and every day. The phenomenal music wraps the weekend message in a relevant way with an amazing diversity of artists and styles chosen for one purpose—to prepare your heart for what God has in store for you.

  • What is the worship like?

    LWM’s various worship services are designed so that all people can connect with the God that loves them. God is calling us all to a deeper relationship with Him. Under the leadership of Pastor Marcus D. Ford, the Worship at LWM comes alive with contemporary, blended, and traditional praise and worship music. We are blessed to have a full complement of talented musicians, including the prophesying guitarist Jonathan Dubose, Ace Livingston, and Dexter Pettaway. An anointed choir and frontline team joins them for an in-depth worship experience.

    Why do we worship God? It is our purpose! According to Revelation 4:11, He is worthy to receive glory, honor and praise. He created us for His pleasure and not our own. Worship is simply us responding to God in a manner which is enjoyable and meaningful to Him.

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  • What is the teaching like?

    Living Word is a Bible-believing church. We believe God has revealed Himself through the Scriptures, and they are His Word and the final authority for our lives. We adhere to sound and orthodox doctrine upon which the foundation of Christianity is built. Yet, we seek to teach the Bible in creative, engaging and relevant ways to make a timeless message life-giving to the hearer. We will never waver in the foundational truths of our faith; they are the solid foundation upon which we stand.

    Our challenge is to take the unchanging truth of scripture and make it practical and applicable to an ever-changing society in which we live. Our message is sacred, but our methods are not. We employ technology, creative arts and relevant environments so we can connect with our target audience. Click here to view recent sermon series from Pastor Vance.

  • What do you do for Spanish speaking individuals? (Que se hace para las personas que hablan Español ?)

    Translation is provided in Spanish for our Friday and Sunday weekend services. Please ask at our information centers for directions on how to obtain a translator device.

    La traducción, al español, está disponible en el servicio del viernes y en los servicios del domingo. Por favor, pregunte en nuestros centros de información para direcciones en cómo obtener una unidad de traducción.

    # “I can receive the message in a way that is understandable for me.” “Puedo recibir el mensaje en una forma ques es comprensible para mí.”

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  • Where do I take my children?

    You'll find first-class programs for your children, from birth through 6th grade. Our Nursery (ages infants – 1) is located just beyond Turbo the Turtle and our Children’s Check-in Center. Here we offer a warm, colorful, and caring environment for your precious ones, with rooms designed for each stage of development.

    The Preschool (ages 2-5), continuing down the hallway is an amazing undersea adventure that will captivate your child’s heart and imagination. Your child will experience worship, Bible stories, crafts, snacks and fun, friendly group interaction along with lots of smiles and hugs!

    Your children, from 1st through 6th grade, will be at home in our Fusion Children's Church, designed just for them. Children will experience church like never before, with our high energy stage production that combines music, drama, lighting and sound, to teach kids the relevant truths of the Bible in fun, creative ways that make it easy for them to understand and apply to their daily lives.

    # “I love spending time with friends at Fusion and learning more about the Bible.”

  • Do you have something for students?

    Absolutely. If you're a Junior High or High School student, Living Word is the place to be!

    Power Unlimited for 7th and 8th graders takes place every Sunday morning at our 11:00 a.m. service in the Teen Center. The service is packed with live music, videos, games, a relevant message, and small group discussions. Don't miss this high-energy time of friends and fun!

    The Core, our ministry for 9th – 12th grade students, is loaded with fast-paced worship, interactive group activities, and biblical teaching. It is an intense time of music, videos, and a message that challenges students in their spiritual journey. The Core meets in the Teen Center on Friday nights from 7:40 – 9:40 p.m.

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  • What do I do about offerings?

    When someone invites you into their home, they supply the dinner and pay for the meal. Family pays the bills not the guests. The offering time at Living Word is for those who are part of the LWM family. Instead of wanting you to give something, we want you to get something from your visit with us!

    # “They asked me not to give!”

  • When do you serve Communion?

    Communion is a time to reflect on God’s goodness and remember what He has done for us through the death, burial and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. God’s Word encourages us to receive communion on a regular basis (1 Corinthians 11:25). Generally at Living Word, we receive communion as a church family the first Sunday of every month, but we encourage you to take communion any time, on your own personally or as a family.

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