Vox Church, a non-denominational Christian church, has expanded to 13 locations in 15 years, with 11 locations in Connecticut and two in Massachusetts. The Hartford campus recently took over the former Second Church of Christ Scientist on Lafayette Street, which was built in the 1920s and sat empty for almost two decades until Vox bought it.

A Hub for the City

Jeremiah Johnson, Vox Hartford campus pastor, said, ‘We see it being a hub for the city, a beacon of hope for the city.’ Vox spent about $4 million renovating the building to be a home for the Hartford campus, which was meeting in rented locations since it began in 2016. Some interior details from the original building were preserved, such as the stained-glass windows and ceilings.

Leaders of the Vox church credit its rapid growth to a change in what they call spiritual temperature. ‘More people are looking for abject truth, as systems and foundations culturally feel like they’re kind of crumbling,’ said Josh Conrad, Vox New Haven campus pastor. ‘People are coming back to church to figure out what is actually true. Where do I actually find purpose, find identity?’

Serving the Community

The church can serve the community better, focusing on those who are unhoused, struggling to put food on the table, and young people. ‘We want to love our neighbor as ourselves,’ Johnson said. ‘And there’s so many needs in the world right now.’ Vox planted a church in Seymour, which meets in a rented space for now. Leaders said they’re always on the lookout for a permanent building, but their focus is on the people who attend.

Original reporting: NBC Connecticut (Hartford) — read the source article.