About Living Water Church

August 2009
Derek Duncan, his wife Dana, and their two children, Jonathan and Elizabeth, moved to LaGrange, New York, in obedience to God's call to plant a new church in Dutchess County. Leaving behind their home in Memphis, Tennessee, their church, business, and cherished relationships was no easy decision. Yet, the motivation was clear: they longed to make an eternal difference in people's lives.

God had been stirring Derek’s heart to love and serve the people of the Northeast, particularly those who were unchurched and needed to experience the transformative love of Jesus Christ. Though a bricklayer by trade, Derek wrestled with whether he should step into church planting. However, through prayer and confirmation from family, friends, and his church, it became evident that this was God's direction for their lives. In faith, the Duncan family moved to the Poughkeepsie area.

Soon after their arrival, they began meeting people in the community, and a small Bible study started in their home. The response was overwhelmingly positive, signaling the potential for a new church. However, this journey was not without its trials—financial difficulties, lack of insurance, health struggles, military deployment, and housing instability all presented significant obstacles. Being far from family and friends added to the challenge. Yet, through it all, God sustained them in miraculous ways.

January 2010
Living Water Church held its first worship service, where a family came to faith in Jesus Christ. As more people gave their lives to Christ, the church celebrated its first baptism service on Easter 2010 at New Beginnings Church in Poughkeepsie. As the congregation grew, the Duncan home became too small to accommodate everyone. In response, Full Gospel Center Church graciously opened its doors, allowing Living Water Church to meet there until a permanent space could be found.

Later in 2010, Living Water Church established its first home in an office complex in LaGrangeville, NY, directly in front of Arlington High School. This location served as a significant milestone, allowing the church to expand its reach and establish deeper roots in the community.

Over time, God provided additional support through mission teams, financial aid, and encouragement from churches such as Bellevue Baptist Church (Memphis, TN) and Colonial Heights Church (Jackson, MS), as well as partnerships with the Hudson Baptist Association, the Baptist Convention of New York, and the North American Mission Board.

May 2016
With a growing heart for global missions, Living Water Church embarked on its first international mission trip to Uruguay, South America, where they constructed a building for a church in need. This was the beginning of a broader vision to spread God's love worldwide.

2017 Church Planting
In 2017, Living Water Church planted Living Stones Church in New Milford, CT, under the leadership of former associate pastor Justin Gailey. The church has been thriving, currently meeting in a community center while actively seeking its first permanent church building. This successful church plant continues to serve as a testament to God’s provision and the mission of church planting.

Transition of Leadership
In October 2020, Pastor Derek Duncan went home to be with the Lord. His passion for sharing the gospel and loving people was evident in everything he did, especially in his role as the Senior Founding Pastor of Living Water Church. Before his passing, Derek mentored his friend Anthony Patton, who was ordained as a pastor shortly before Derek was called home. In January 2021, Anthony Patton was voted in as the Lead Pastor of Living Water Church, continuing the mission and vision that Derek had set in motion. Under Pastor Anthony’s leadership, the church has continued to grow and expand its reach.

In October 2023, Coby Schaefer was ordained as a pastor at Living Water Church, further strengthening the leadership team. In 2024, Erik Picard was ordained as a church planting pastor, as Living Water Church continues to pursue its mission of planting new churches and reaching more people with the gospel.

Expanding & Seeking a Permanent Home
By 2016, the church had outgrown its office space, holding two services and actively seeking a permanent home. Many doors closed as they pursued different opportunities, often leading the church to ask, “God, what’s next?” In faith, the church purchased land on Arthursburg Road in LaGrange and developed plans to build. Just as ground was about to be cleared, the COVID-19 pandemic halted the project.

After enduring the trials of COVID-19 and the heartbreaking loss of Pastor Derek Duncan in October 2020, the church continued to grow. By late 2021, they revisited the building project, only to find that the rising post-pandemic costs made it financially unfeasible. Once again, they sought God’s direction. Another promising building opportunity arose but was closed off due to state regulations. Then, in a way only God could orchestrate, the doors opened for a historic church building in downtown Poughkeepsie—more than they could have asked, dreamed, or expected. In October 2023, Living Water Church joyfully moved into its new home.

Continued Growth & Future Vision
Throughout its journey, Living Water Church has continued to grow and deepen its ministry:

In 2018, the church launched 3:18 Growth Groups, fostering deeper discipleship and community.
In 2020-2024, Living Water Church consistently hosted apologetics classes, equipping believers to defend their faith.
In 2022, the church began a Saturday early morning theology class, which remains strong today.
The Dock Ministry (children’s church) has flourished from just one child in 2011 to an average attendance of 70 children in 2024. In 2023, the church celebrated its first child who completed the entire Dock program from birth to graduation.

Looking ahead, Living Water Church is prayerfully casting vision for future ministry in downtown Poughkeepsie. The Lord has placed a call to plant more churches, and plans are actively underway for a new church plant, Living Hope Church, launching in 2026. Additionally, the groundwork has been laid for a counseling ministry, and the church is eagerly working to bring an annual Passion Play to Poughkeepsie to proclaim the gospel in a powerful way.

The story of Living Water Church is still being written, as we pursue God’s vision to grow His family—locally, globally, and for generations to come.