In Norwich connecting
By Adam Miller 
The international community in Norwich, Conn., smiles when they see Shaun Pillay walking down the street.
The 26-year-old church planter has made quite an impression on this New England town.
South African-born, Shaun Pillay learned of Norwich when a Connecticut church group volunteering through the IMB came to South Africa four years ago. Pillay led the group as they visited HIV/AIDS orphanages. He in turn learned of the needs in Connecticut. Later that year, Pillay was called to missions at a missions conference in Birmingham, England.
“I remember one speaker saying ‘We need you to come to Europe and America. Our churches are dying,’” says Pillay. “God spoke to me distinctly telling me to go.”
Three years ago Pillay was speaking at churches in America and he visited Norwich. He knew God was calling him to plant a church there. He flew home long enough to marry his fiancé, Deshni, before returning as a church planter to the region. The newlyweds spent their honeymoon in Norwich where Deshni arrived with her life fitting into two suitcases and a wedding album.
One of their earliest experiences was of going hungry one night, drinking only tea for dinner. The next morning with no money to buy breakfast they went out to prayerwalk the community. That afternoon they came home to a stoop filled with well-stocked grocery bags.
“I could have called someone to help us, but I wanted us to trust God and see what He would do.”
This spirit has marked the couple’s ministry in Norwich these last few years as they’ve prayed for relationships, opportunities to proclaim Christ and create a gospel presence among people on the fringes. Homeless, mentally ill, prostitutes, drug dealers and people who’ve come from far away countries make up the gathering at Cornerstone Bible Church.
Pillay’s first deacon was a former drug dealer named David. His latest Bible study meets in a barbershop owned by a former drug dealer. He’s trusted God with every moment of the last three years, and God has shown up in amazing ways.
“Shaun’s the kind of person who would eat at the homeless soup kitchen so he could save enough cash to take you to lunch,” says Scott Neathery, pastor of First Baptist Church Wake Village, in Texarkana, Texas. Wake Village is Shaun’s primary partner church.
Recently, instead of filling a staff position, the church dedicated $2,500 a month over the next five years to help support Cornerstone Bible Church. Instead of renovating their building, Wake Village decided to stay debt free so they could give to church planters like Shaun.
“Sure we could build a sanctuary and it would be nice. And I’m sure some people would come to our church as a result,” says Neathery. “But is that what glorifies God? We’ve worshipped for years in this facility. We stay cool and dry and this facility has many years left in it. So we decided to stay debt free and so we’re free to give to missions.”
The music pastor at Wake Village had met Shaun in South Africa years before. In 2009, Shaun called to see if he and Neathery would come and lead a revival for his church.
“I decided instead of just the two of us going we could open it to the whole church so they could see the work going on up there,” recalls Neathery.
What started as a 15-person mission trip to Norwich turned into a partnership that has the whole church excited about missions.
“It’s been sweet. If you bring up something in the way of a missions endeavor, our people come through with gifts,” says Neathery. “It’s got our folks here at Wake Village thinking let’s not be a church that’s guilty of constantly making things comfortable for us. Let’s be outward focused and ask how can we make the greatest impact for the kingdom.
“For me it’s been how can we support those God has called out to do the work,” adds Neathery. “Our commitment to the kingdom has to be global. You don’t have to go hunting. You just get your heart right and be in a spirit of prayer. God has a way of laying opportunities in our lap and we respond.”
Send North America is partnering church planters, like Shaun, with established churches who have a heart for the Great Commission, which benefits both the planter and the sending church.
Adam Miller is associate editor of On Mission.