A Bangor native returned home this spring to found a new church and extend the ministry of an Arizona congregation.

The Rev. Paul Warf led services at Life Changers Community Church on Outer Hammond Street for the first time in June. More than 40 worshippers attended the first service, according to the minister.

“Our main thrust is the development of leaders in the body of Christ,” said Ward, 39. “Some people come to church and sit through the service, but that is not fulfilling the church’s purpose to raise up leaders to be of influence in the community.”

The former house painter said that at the age of 23 he gave his life to Jesus Christ and joined Glad Tidings Church in Bangor. Warf, who had long hair and a beard in the late 1980s, played Jesus in the annual Easter play for several years and was active in the Broadway church’s music ministry.

Warf attended Faith Theology School in Charleston for two years, then moved to the Phoenix area in 1994 to pursue training at Victory Christian Center, now Life Changers Community Church. After an internship at the church in Mesa, Ariz., he joined the ministerial staff and served there eight years.

Last summer, however, the minister began to feel that God was calling him in a new direction, away from the 1,000-member Arizona church.

“We just felt that the Lord would have us move back into this area and bring what we’ve learned to start a church here,” Warf said. “The church in Arizona was pretty moving and shaking, and a really good ministry to learn under.”

The new church’s vision is to develop “leaders to fulfill the Great Commission of making disciples of all peoples.” The values listed in the church bulletin are: God’s word, worship, evangelism, discipleship and fellowship.

To meet those goals, the new church uses cell ministry or weekly home fellowship and Bible discussion meetings where people develop relationships to fulfill God’s plan for their lives, according to Warf.

The minister’s wife, Kim Warf, 39, and two daughters, Ashton, 13, and Amy, 9, recently helped him distribute 2,000 door hangers throughout the city inviting people to attend the new church.

A Sunday prayer service is held from 9 to 9:20 a.m. with worship services beginning at 10 a.m. The church meets in Cushman Plaza, 1606 Hammond St. Bangor.

For information, call 945-4051.