ABOUT US

CHURCH HISTORY

South Portland Church of the Nazarene, 176 Sawyer Street. The parish at this location dates back to 1900, with construction of the building in 1904. The congregation relocated to 525 Highland Avenue, South Portland, in 1971. Now called First Light Church of the Nazarene.

FOUNDED IN 1900

FIRST BUILDING IN 1904

SECOND BUILDING IN 1971

WATCH THE HISTORY

WHO WE ARE

Vision Statement

A church where change takes place.

Our Mission

To create experiences that light the way to a growing relationship with Jesus.

Our Core Values

Loved people love people.
(Matthew 22: 36-40, John 13:35)
Changed people change.
(2 Peter 3:18, Acts 4:32-35)
Found people find people.
(Luke 5:31-32, John 1:35-46)
Saved people serve people.
(Mark 10:43-45, John 3:30)
Growing people grow with people.
(Romans 12:5, Acts 2:42-47)

MORE DETAILS

MEET OUR PASTORS AND STAFF

SENIOR PASTOR

Ajay and Julie Vyas

Ajay and Julie Vyas have been married for 24 years and are the loving parents of 5 children. Ajay was the Family Pastor at Crossroads Church of Nazarene, in Ellicott City, MD for 10 years before planting Connections Church outside of Baltimore, and pastoring there for another decade. In 2019 the Vyas family accepted a calling to move to Maine as the Lead Pastor of First Light South Portland Church of the Nazarene. Ajay is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene. He holds a B.A. in BioPsychology from the University of Maryland, an M.S. in Clinical Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University, and a M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University. Julie is also an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene with an undergraduate degree from Eastern Nazarene College and an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Maryland. Julie also serves as the Director of Lighthouse School Daycare.