Answering God’s Call in the Face of Setbacks

After serving 20 years in the Air Force, Timothy Varney launched Illuminate Church in Brewer, Maine, — located in one of the most unchurched regions in America. Despite setbacks, the church has seen lives transformed and broken homes restored.

According to Northern New England District Superintendent Daniel Abbatiello, the launch of healthy churches like Illuminate are directly connected to perseverance in the call of God.

“It’s their call that sustains them through hard times. It’s their call that has overcome obstacles. It’s their call that keeps them moving forward through the setbacks. It’s the call that gave them the courage to risk everything and go out on a limb for God,” says Abbatiello.

Varney first felt the call of God when he was just 7 or 8 years old. God miraculously healed him from a skin rash that would cause bleeding sores on his body while at a service in Berwick, Maine, where his father pastored a church.

That day, he dedicated himself to pursue the call of God, but growing up as a pastor’s kid, he witnessed the realities and hardships of leading a church and started experiencing feelings of resentment.

RUNNING AWAY

On his 18th birthday, he left and joined the Air Force.

“I would not be a pastor in Maine if it was the last job on earth, and that's what I told God.” Varney says. Today, Varney says he couldn’t imagine doing anything else — “My heart breaks for this city.”

Throughout the initial years of his military career, he struggled with addictions and harbored a lot of bitterness and anger. “I knew God was real, I’d seen too much growing up, but I was mad at Him,” says Varney, 40.

But the Lord kept pursuing Varney.

“I had hit a crossroads in my life, I had to decide if I'm going to keep going down this path away from God. I'm going to lose my salvation if I do that. And I know there's debates on whether or not that's possible, but I had to choose. I'm going to turn towards what God wants me to do,” says Varney.

“God delivered me from the alcohol instantly, but the pornography and especially the bitterness took quite a few years for me to process,” says Varney. Still, Varney pursued the call he knew God had for him.

RETURN TO MAINE

A few years later in 2018, Dennis Marquardt, who served the Northern New England District at that time, mentioned the possibility of the Varneys moving to Maine and planting a church.

“Cindy and I just laughed and said, we aren’t going to plant a church. That requires too many unknowns,” Varney says.

But during a visit to Brewer, Maine, they stopped at Joshua Chamberlain Park and began to sense that they were where God was leading them.

“We could see a steeple off in the distance and we just felt God tell us – this is your city,” Varney states.

According to Varney, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, make up the Northern New England District. They are among the least religious states in America. “Christianity is kind of on life support here,” says Varney.

Abbatiello, who served as director of Church Development for 15 years, says, “During the years I served in that position we added 33 churches.” He adds, “We also closed as many. Admittedly, COVID did hurt us and cause some church losses.”

It was during this difficult season and region that God allowed Varney to open the church in Brewer. 

LAUNCHING ILLUMINATE CHURCH

In 2022, a family who had originally agreed to help the Varneys launch the church changed their minds on their first day in Maine. Varney recalls how they felt alone. “It was just four people in our family and a calling, but no idea how it was going to happen,” Varney says. Still, the family persevered.

Before the church launch, they held meetings in a hotel in Brewer, but a month right before their grand opening, the Varneys faced yet another setback. They lost the hotel space where they were supposed to hold their first service.

“There were several times when we thought we killed the church before it even started,” Varney states. Desperate, he reached out to a historic church, First Congregational Church of Brewer, established in 1800, which had previously turned them down. The church agreed.

Illuminate Church is now renting their basement with unlimited access and was successfully launched on Easter in 2023 with 13 people. Today, 45-50 people attend their services.

FRUIT OF OBEDIENCE

Now, the blessing of God is being poured out in miraculous ways.

Anthony, a marine veteran who helped the Varneys move in and was one of the first people on their church launch team, was told that he and his wife could not have children. The Varneys prayed for them and a year later, a baby dedication was held for Anthony and his wife’s newborn child.

Anthony invited his friend Joe to the baby dedication and today, not only has Joe accepted Jesus, but his sister and mother have also received Christ. Although Illuminate Church holds community outreaches, especially during Christmas time, the biggest influence, Varney says, is through personal connections such as these.

Another unexpected blessing came in the form of financial provision.

During their first month, Varney felt God tell him to give a portion of their offerings to missions, but he didn’t know how they would pay their bills — nevertheless, he obeyed.

In June 2023, they had received enough checks in the mail to cover all their expenses for the rest of that year.

“The reality is that God doesn't need us to be perfect. He just needs us to be obedient and to keep trusting Him,” says Varney.

The call of God sustains us against anything we may face because of His supernatural strength within us. “When we give our lives to God, he can redeem the ugly parts of it and use them for his glory,” says Varney.

Timothy and Cindy Varney’s testimony highlights what it means to persevere after the calling of God, despite facing setbacks. God can restore any broken heart and redeem the time that was lost.

The Varneys are excited for the future and can’t wait to see what God has in store for Illuminate Church.

Elena Chernov

Elena Chernov graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois, majoring in media communication. She is passionate about writing and bringing stories to life.