Braniel Church
NORTH EASTERN DISTRICT
Breakfast church gathering
Braniel Church is a Pioneer Mission Project in East Belfast and is seeing clear signs of God at work, with steady numerical growth and deepening connections across the local community. Since before the Covid-19 pandemic, the gathered worshipping community has almost doubled in size.
Prior to Covid, around 40 people were part of Braniel’s worshipping community. Today, that number has grown to approximately 80 when all are present together. What is particularly encouraging is that this growth is not primarily through transfer from other churches, but through people from the local housing estate who previously had little or no connection with church or faith. This reflects God drawing people in through relationships, trust, and everyday presence.
As a Pioneer Mission Project, much of what is emerging reflects God reshaping the culture of the church, moving it away from a solely Sunday-focused model towards a more relational and incarnational expression of church life. As relationships have grown during the week, Sunday gatherings have evolved to become more conversational, participatory, and welcoming. One visible expression of this has been the introduction of regular breakfast worship gatherings, offering a relaxed and accessible space where people can belong, explore faith, and move from spectators to participants in the life of the church.
Alongside gathered worship, God has opened doors for connection beyond the church building. Through community activities, partnerships, and everyday presence, the church family has built meaningful relationships with over 100 additional people who are not part of the regular worshipping community. Members of the church are also regularly involved in a community brunch club in the local community centre, building friendships in a shared, neutral space. These relationships have become a natural bridge between church and community.
This outward focus has been further expressed through a Church Community Transformation Project in partnership with Thrive Ireland, seeking to listen to the 1,200-home estate surrounding the church and discern how the community can thrive together. New spaces such as a community café, community gym, family board game nights, and small groups have provided safe, welcoming environments for connection, with many now attending worship having first encountered the church through these relationships.
As the church family continues to grow, Braniel Church offers a picture of how God brings renewal and numerical growth through faithful, relational mission rooted in everyday community life.