Two Campuses on Either Side of Burlington
Essex Alliance Church has called the Champlain Valley home for decades, and its reach now stretches across two very different neighborhoods. The main campus sits at 37 Old Stage Road in Essex Junction, while a second campus, often called the North Avenue Campus, meets at 901 North Avenue in Burlington, in the city's New North End close to the Old North End. Beyond its own congregation, the North Avenue building hosts several multi-cultural local churches, a tangible expression of EAC's commitment to sharing space with the wider community.
EAC's slogan is "You Are Welcome Here." The church's stated mission is to love people, better its communities, and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It does so as part of the Christian & Missionary Alliance, a Protestant denomination devoted to introducing the love of God to all nations.
Sunday Mornings at Essex and Burlington
Three Sunday morning services run back-to-back at the Essex campus: 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM, giving families flexibility to pick the time that fits best. The Burlington campus meets once on Sunday at 10:00 AM. For those who cannot attend in person, the online campus streams a 9:30 AM service through YouTube.
First-time guests are welcome to come as they are. Casual attire is the norm; jeans are common, though some attendees dress up. Sunday mornings at Essex include programs for kids and students at every age, with online pre-registration available so volunteers can be ready when a family arrives.
The North Avenue Campus: A Burlington Hub
Gregg Walsh serves as Executive Pastor over the Burlington Campus, with Ashleigh Kedzierski leading worship there. The Burlington campus is a growing, diverse campus, committed to meeting the unique needs of the Burlington community. Beyond its own services, the building provides space for several multi-cultural local churches, a quiet but significant piece of EAC's vision for the city.
Office hours at the Burlington campus vary, and visitors are asked to call (802) 864-0501 before stopping by. The Essex campus office is staffed Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at (802) 878-8213.
Kids, Students, and Young Families
EAC places a strong emphasis on the next generation. The Kids & Young Families ministry walks alongside parents from pregnancy through elementary school. Katie Spurlock directs early childhood, while Blayne Towle serves as Resident Interim Director of Elementary Ministry. Sunday mornings include age-appropriate programming, and the year is filled with family movie nights, dance parties, an Easter egg hunt, Trunk or Treat, parents' nights out, and small groups.
For middle and high schoolers, Caleb Gee leads the Student Ministries. Students meet in small groups, attend camps and retreats, gather around bonfires, and join special events designed to be safe, fun places to ask big questions and build friendships with caring adults.
Women, Men, and Community Groups
Julie Davis leads the Women's Ministry, which hosts meet-ups, small groups, special events, and retreats for women of every age and stage. Kindred, a ministry specifically for women 60 and up, is part of the same department. Dwight Safer heads the Men's Ministry, organizing breakfasts, conferences, studies, and events aimed at helping men strengthen their families, church, workplace, and neighborhood.
Community Groups are the heart of EAC's midweek life. These small groups meet across the region to study Scripture, share meals, pray together, and serve their neighbors. Groups are open to anyone; membership is not required to join.
Night to Shine and the Special-Needs Community
Each February, on the Friday before Valentine's Day, EAC hosts Night to Shine, a Tim Tebow Foundation-sponsored prom night experience for people with special needs ages 14 and older. The church has hosted the event for several years, welcoming guests with crowns, tiaras, and a red-carpet entrance. Guest registration and volunteer sign-ups open in the fall.
Vets of Hope and First Responders
Vets of Hope brings together veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders to support one another through a faith-based, biblical approach to life's struggles. The group is certified as a Vermont outpost of the Mighty Oaks Foundation, a faith-based veteran service organization that teaches participants to move beyond combat trauma and other soul wounds, aligning life with biblical principles.
Care, Counseling, and Grief Support
The Care Department, led by Charlie Bohl (Discipleship, Care & Small Groups Pastor), handles prayer requests, weddings, funerals, hospital visits, pastoral counseling, and benevolent needs. The church partners with two outside ministries for professional counseling: Azimuth Counseling & Therapeutic Services offers integrated mind-body-spirit care, while Journey True North Ministries provides Christian mentoring for individuals, couples, adolescents, and families. Financial assistance is available for those who need it, and pastoral counseling is also available through EAC's Care Pastors.
Grief Share, a nondenominational Bible-based series on grief, runs periodically throughout the year. Open to men and women who have lost a spouse, child, parent, family member, or friend, the program combines video seminars, group discussion, and a guided workbook.
M25 and the Wider Community
EAC's M25 ministry is a monthly food drive supporting local food shelves. The name comes from Matthew 25:37-40, where Jesus describes caring for the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned as caring for Him. Before each collection Sunday, the church publishes a list of most-needed items along with reusable grocery bags for donations.
During the holiday season, the Care Department runs a Holiday Gift Card program and coordinates Operation Christmas Child, sending shoebox gifts around the world. EAC also takes part in missions locally, district-wide, and globally through the Christian & Missionary Alliance network, with past trips to Israel, Greece, and Germany.
Worship, Tech, and the Arts
Trevor Contois serves as Worship Director at the Essex campus, leading the band and vocal team. Cameron Bushey heads the Technical Director role, overseeing sound, cameras, video production, the sound booth, and the Artist Spotlight series. A separate Night of Worship event takes place outside of regular Sunday services. The Worship & Arts team welcomes new musicians and tech volunteers through sign-up forms in the Church Center app.
Getting Connected, Giving, and the Building Project
The EAC Church Center is the digital hub for everything happening at the church. There, visitors can browse groups and events, sign up to volunteer, register for Bible studies, manage giving, and download the Church Center app. Membership is not required to participate in any activity at EAC; members are simply those who have made a deliberate commitment to the church's mission, leadership, and future.
Giving is described as an act of worship. Because EAC does not operate on large endowments, donations fund its ministries and community work. Contributions can be directed to either the Essex campus or the North Avenue campus, and a planned-giving resource through Faith & Finance helps donors plan estate gifts.
Meanwhile, EAC is in the middle of a building project at the Essex campus, expanding the lobby and making needed updates to the building. The FOR [ ] Campaign invites people to participate in the work. While construction is underway, the Facilities team has paused new room reservations to minimize disruption.
Reach and Online Presence
For those farther afield, EAC's Online Campus maintains a presence through YouTube, where past sermons, worship sets, and devotionals are posted, along with Facebook, Instagram, and a Spotify podcast. The church invites anyone with a prayer request, a question, or a story to share to reach out through the contact page.