Find out more about our vision, story and values below.
Our Vision
To see every person Rooted in a firm assurance of the saving grace that Jesus Christ has freely given through his death and resurrection.
To see each person Planted in this local church family by finding a sense of belonging and friendship.
To see each person Fruitful in using their gifts, talents and resources to help build the local church, sow and go out into the nations and reach into their local communities with the hope of the Gospel.
Rooted in Christ. Planted in Family. Fruitful in Life.
Our Story
In April 2000, Ant and Helen Rist and their two sons, Matthew and Jesse arrived in the UK from South Africa and began meeting with a handful of friends in their living room in Watford. Over the months following, the fledgling church plant grew and Forest Town Church was born. Ant and Helen felt that God would establish a church community of people from different cultures, backgrounds and generations to become a picture of what God is doing in building his church across the nations. In 2009 FTC took the step of buying a property on an industrial estate in St Albans and the church relocated to Lyon Way on the Smallford Estate where it still meets today. Over the years God has continued to do incredible things and we have seen Him move in power. In 2022 we completed plans to renovate the kids rooms as we wanted to invest in the next growing generation!
Isaiah 41:19
Our Ethos
As a local church, we are on a journey of learning to understand the full impact of the Gospel of Jesus not only for our salvation but for our every day lives.
These are some of the truths that we value:
Church As Family
Psalm 68:6 says, “God puts the lonely in families.” We love that church is about belonging to God’s family. At Forest Town Church, we see each person as a valued member of our church family. The best way to learn about being part of community is to be in a loving, grace-filled community. At FTC Life Groups are smaller groups that meet in each others’ homes as a safe space where you can be known and belong.
The Word and the Spirit
We are a church who upholds the Word of God, the Bible, as God’s perfect, life giving revelation of His heart and purpose to us. At the same time we value and love the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In our times together on a Sunday we want to see the Word of God preached powerfully and also for people to be encouraged and built up through the Holy Spirit during our times of worship and prayer ministry.
Walk by the Spirit
When we believe in God, we no longer live by external rules and religious duty. Instead, God has given us His Holy Spirit who teaches us His ways. A friend of ours, Michael Eaton, put it like this: “When you walk by the Spirit deliberately, you will fulfil the law accidentally.” We want people to live life to the full in the freedom we have in Christ as we walk in step with God’s Holy Spirit and his written Word.
Our Culture
We are a church that is learning to live in a culture of grace. This means choosing to think and behave in a way that honours God and others.
These are some of the values that we are learning to walk in:
Unity
In the book of Psalms it says that where there is unity, God commands a blessing. Unity comes when we choose to believe the best of others and when we choose to speak well of one another especially in their absence. Unity comes when we can talk about our differences without accusation as we become mature in love.
Sometimes forgiving those who hurt us can be hard but holding onto offence is even more damaging to ourselves and those around us. Jesus taught us to forgive in the same measure that He has forgiven us.
Forgiveness
Jesus turned things upside down when He said that He came to serve and not to be served. In our relationships we want to be those who look out for others, where helping out is never too much trouble.
Servant-Heartedness
Authenticity
Being real with each other creates a safe place where we can help each other to grow through our weaknesses and failings. It’s about being the same person in private as you are in public. It is about having integrity but also humility to learn from others.
Honour and Respect
Honour is something that you choose to give someone because you see their worth before God. It is about cherishing another’s reputation as if it is your own. Honour is a way of saying, ‘I appreciate you.’
Generosity
When we think how kind God has been to us, we want to be a people who give of our lives, our resources, our gifts and talents in a way that blesses others and builds the local church.
Courageous Faith
We want to be a community where people feel safe to take risks and courageous steps of faith as they hear God for their lives.