Bright Clouds Ministries Becomes Faith Church

DANBURY –– Bright Clouds Ministries, a contemporary, nondenominational church, school, and television ministry serving the greater Danbury area, will begin the New Year with a new name and new plans for expanded facilities and greater community involvement.

As of January 1, Bright Clouds Ministries on Clapboard Ridge Road became Faith Church, with the motto, “Real People, Real Life, Real Faith.”

New Hope Christian Academy will expand and restructure as Faith Academy for pre-K through eighth grade, and Faith Preparatory School for ninth–twelfth grades. Its television ministry, “Destined to Win,” will continue to be broadcast to the tri-state area and on the Sky Angel satellite system nationwide. 

Central to the plan is construction of a $15 million community and family life worship center that will house not only the sanctuary, but also a school and daycare, sporting facilities, a movie theater, an arcade and game center, and a cappuccino and ice cream shop. Preparation of the new site has begun; full construction is set to begin April 1, with expected completion by July 2005. The center will be open to the community as well as church members, offering supervised recreation, homework tutoring, and other activities for adults, youth, and children.

Church leaders said the change and expansion is part of an effort to better relate to the surrounding community, both churchgoers and nonchurchgoers. “This is a huge undertaking, not something normally done by churches in our area,” said Senior Pastor Frank Santora. “Obviously in doing this, we’re believing in God to help us every step of the way, hence the name Faith Church.” He added that the new name would be less confusing and more reflective of the church’s mission to offer an authentic spiritual experience and become more interactive with the community. 

The new name and mission will be launched with a direct mailing to about 100,000 households and celebrated on Sunday, January 18, with “Friends Day,” a special worship service featuring Gospel artist Alvin Slaughter.

Bright Clouds Ministries began 1983 and grew from small private home Bible studies to a 1,250-member congregation. Faith Church offers nondenominational worship using teaching, contemporary music, multimedia video, and drama illustrations. Worship services are held Sundays at 8:45 am and 11 am, and Wednesdays at 7 pm at 18 Clapboard Ridge Road.

For more information about Faith Church, contact Cathy Brennan at 798-1553 or log on to www.faithchurchct.com.