Upcoming News
Leadership Selection: Selection of key leaders for Connections Church is under way.  If you believe God is calling you to a particular area of leadership or if you would like to recommend someone to be considered for a particular area of leadership, please contact the church office.  Positions needed are listed on the Volunteer Opportunities page in the drop down menu under Global.Net.

4Ghc Groups Upstart: COMING SOON!  Connections @ Clearwater sub-division.  Connections @ Cresthill Townhomes.

Are You Interested?  Do you live in the SE Flowery Branch or North Buford area of Georgia?  We need YOU!  We're building a core group to begin a new church in the Spouts Spring Rd / Friendship Rd / Thompson Mill Rd area.  E-mail us if you have an interest.


Our Staff

Richie Lewis
(Lead Pastor)
 
Richie and Elena Lewis have been married almost twenty-five years.  Their children are Brandon, Watson, and Elise.  Richie graduated from Brewton-Parker College in Mt. Vernon, Georgia with a Bachelor of Ministry Degree.  Elena graduated from Georgia Southern College with a degree in Education.  Richie then completed his Masters degree, graduating from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1996.  Richie is expecting to complete his Doctor of Ministry degree from Luther Rice University in the summer of 2013.
 
Since 1988, Richie has pastored three different churches in Georgia. His most recent pastorates were churches he and his family started in Hiram,
GA and Gadsden, AL.  He also served as Professor of Religion in the Social Sciences Division at Gadsden State Community College for three years.
 
How Did We Get Where We Are?
 
 After ten very successful years at the church he started in Georgia, Richie believed he had accomplished all that God had called him to do.  A full staff and leadership team was in place.  Over twenty-five acres of land had been purchased.  A 14,000 sq. ft. multi-purpose worship center, along with a 5,000 sq. foot administrative building had been built.  A membership of almost 600 people was in place.  All that God had called Richie to do back in 1997 had been done.  So with a love for teaching and church planting, Richie and Elena began to pray about the next place of service.
 
Within a few months both Richie and Elena were offered teaching positions in two academic settings.  Richie was offered a position at Gadsden State Community College and Elena was offered a position at Westbrook Christian School in Gadsden, Alabama.  In addition, there was a small group of people meeting together in Southside, Alabama that had an interest in beginning a new church.  These things gave further confirmation that God was calling them to Alabama. Richie, Elena, and family moved to the Gadsden area in July of 2007.
 
In September of 2009, Richie's mother died as a result of cancer.  This left his father without any other family in Georgia.  Not long after, it was discovered that Elena's mother's health was quickly declining.  Both Richie and Elena sensed the need to return to Georgia.
 
In August of 2010, Richie, Elena, and their family moved back to Gainesville.  The need for a new type of ministry in Hall County became quickly apparent.  After much soul-searching and prayer, Richie was led to begin Connections Church.
 
Richie's life verse has long been Psalm 37: 4, "Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart."  Richie believes God has given him the desires of his heart...to teach and lead people to love Jesus radically, exclusively, and creatively.
 
Richie admits that he does not know how God will provide for this ministry or how He will accomplish the goal of becoming one church that meets in more than one location.  But, he is resolved that God will be faithful to finish what He calls His people to launch out into by faith.