Meet Epiphany

Epiphany Church is a multi-ethnic church plant in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, NY. We are a local church learning what it means to follow Jesus in a complex city. We see ourselves in a growing relationship with Jesus and one another, a relationship that ignites us to be agents of change in our city. Similar to the early disciples, we are made up of different ethnicities, socioeconomic make up, young families, singles, professionals, Brooklyn natives, and artists which makes us quite the motley crew to serve Jesus.

Why Brooklyn?

With a population of 2.6 million people in more than 80 distinct neighborhoods, the need for churches is great. Although Brooklyn is known as the “Borough of Churches,” taking the 2.6 million residents of Brooklyn and placing them in the existing churches would result in each church operating at a membership of ~3,500 people. We desperately need more churches that are serious about seeing the city transformed by the gospel message.

Our Beliefs

Brandon Watts was on the move quite a bit through his youth – with a father in the military, Brandon and his family changed residences various times before finally settling in New Jersey. As a young adult, he and his wife Ty met in New York, moved to the Pennsylvania suburbs and were settled comfortably with their two sons, Jaden and Jeremy before God decided that once again it was time for change. Brandon began attending and serving at Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia in 2010, and in 2013 the Lord birthed and crystallized his plan to leave his corporate job, move his family into the city, and begin raising support as a church plant resident under the elders of Epiphany.

Once God made it clear that the target area of his ministry would be Brooklyn, Brandon began making trips with Lead Pastor of Epiphany Fellowship Dr. Eric Mason, his wife and others to walk the streets and pray over the area. He finally sensed a calling to the neighborhood of Bed-Stuy, and after being officially ordained in 2015, he and his family made another move, this time to Brooklyn. Although he would lead, each member of Brandon’s family now took on integral roles in the planting of the new church in their own ways.

With a missionary mindset, Brandon’s daily quest is to impact the local community through the love of Christ. He holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Bible with a concentration on discipleship counseling from Cairn University, and his passions include preaching the gospel, shepherding his family and church, and seeing the inner city transformed by the message of Jesus.

Gabe is an East Coaster, communications specialist, food enthusiast, wearer of many hats kind of guy. Originally from Massachusetts, he attended Temple University in Philadelphia where he began relationships not just with his future wife, but also in the form of a renewed commitment to God through Jesus while attending Epiphany Fellowship just a few blocks from his off-campus apartment.
Gabe moved to New York after graduation in 2010 and got married in 2013. Now with their powers and resources combined, he and his wife Keisha began searching for a new church home that could stir their hearts the way they once were back in Philadelphia. In 2015 they came across the growing plant of Epiphany Brooklyn, and after a brief visionary meeting with Pastor Brandon and his wife over lunch (of course) and a lot of prayer (obviously), the decision was made to begin the new adventure together.

After that meeting in March of 2015, Gabe worked diligently as a semi-full-time volunteer through the many church planting stages, before finally coming on staff shortly after Epiphany Church’s launch. His commitment, attitude and business hours haven’t changed much, he just has an official title now and some new “hats” to wear. Gabe’s hope is to guide the development and growth of the church, while empowering the immensely gifted group of church volunteers (his wife included) to serve Brooklyn and spread the gospel!