Valley Brook Community Church is pleased to announce the arrival of two new staff members, Chelsea Smith as the new director of children’s ministry and Luis Franco as the new director of student ministries.
Smith lives in West Suffield with her husband and children and they have attended Valley Brook for years. She is a graduate of the University of Hartford with a degree in early childhood education and has taught in both public and private schools in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Along with teaching, Smith oversees a large group of volunteers who teach and shepherd the children in the church’s midweek and Sunday morning classes from nursery age through fifth grade. Reflecting on this opportunity, Smith says, “I am so grateful for this opportunity and pray that I can help cultivate a love of Jesus in each child.”
Franco and his family live in Windsor Locks, where he and his wife are raising their young family. While Franco works full time for the City of Hartford, he has felt called to serve in ministry from a young age. Raised in a family where his father was a pastor, he has been involved in ministry since childhood and, at his previous church, Franco and his wife were very involved in serving students. The focus of the church’s student ministries has Franco working with a team of volunteers to teach students and help them develop biblical values to guide them through life. He leads the ministry at Wednesday night gatherings, weekend retreats and other events. Regarding working with students Franco adds, “Growing up, youth ministry wasn’t just a social club; it was a lifeline. It was where I found a community that understood me, leaders who challenged me and, most importantly, a space where my faith came alive and my relationship with God became real. My prayer is that our students don’t just learn about God, but that they would seek Him with all their hearts and find him waiting with open arms.”
Valley Brook Community Church actively serves the community and seeks to serve people of all ages. Worship services are held in both English and Spanish on Sundays at 10 a.m. at 160 Granville Road in North Granby, with the English services also live-streamed on the church website and YouTube.