Who We Are?
Welcome to EFC
Expect Faith Center is a relativity new non-denominational ministry that was established on October 21st, 2018. We are dedicated to preaching and teaching the Gospel to anyone that is willing to listen.
Our preaching is Bible-based, and Christ-centered, one of our greatest focuses is to provide a safe and interactive environment for the entire family. We truly love our members and the community and believe in meeting people where they are.
Know Us Better
Pastor Jay Milner has been a licensed and ordained minister since October 17, 2012, under the leadership of Bishop Dr. John S. Battle II of New Shield of Faith Christian Ministries. During his tenure at New Shield of Faith, Pastor Jay served as Assistant Pastor and the “Superintendent” of Spiritual Growth Christian Education classes. He also contributed to various ministries, including youth groups, audiovisual, and online media marketing. Under Dr. Battle’s mentorship, Pastor Jay gained invaluable experience in pastoral leadership and received rigorous Biblical and Theological training.
Pastor Jay is married to the love of his life, Asia Marie Milner. After nearly a decade of marriage, he remains in awe of God’s blessing in his life—a beautiful, compassionate woman with a heart for ministry. He firmly believes that God equips us for the journey He sets before us, and Asia has been his unwavering support, making ministry both fulfilling and joyful. Asia has served as the Director of the Children’s Church and Youth Ministry at New Shield of Faith, where her weekly duties included planning and implementing youth events, curricula, crafts, plays, and mentorship programs. She is also a Pre-K teacher in the public school system.
Pastor Jay embraces the sacred privilege and responsibility of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is committed to preaching and teaching the entire Bible with the wisdom and truth that come from God through the Holy Spirit. Guided by Philippians 4:13, he is empowered to preach the Word of God, regardless of the challenges he faces.
In October 2018, God called Pastor Jay to establish a new ministry, where he is now the founder and Senior Pastor of Expect Faith Center. EFC was created to meet people where they are, with unwavering faith that God can heal, deliver, and save anyone. With a vision for a relatable and family-oriented ministry, Pastor Jay often describes EFC as a church “Outside of the Box.”
Our Core Beliefs
Our mission is very similar to most other churches that you may have seen or have been a part of (Love God, Love People, Make Disciples)
We believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through him and the sacrifice that he made for our sins on the cross grant us, access to eternal life/heaven.
1 John 5: 1-12
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
We believe that the Church is the body of Christ, of which Jesus Christ is the head. We exercise the ability to be able to spread the Gospel outside of the 4 walls but we also maintain a high level of emphasis on being able to worship within the institution of a church building. The church is not only the building but rather resides on the inside of all of us. The church building is a place where any individual can come and receive guidance and develop more of a relationship with God. This is delivered through worship experiences such as preaching, gospel music, prayer, lessons, teachings, and fellowships.
Psalm 122:1
I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
Baptism is a symbol of Christ’s burial and resurrection. Our entrance into the water during baptism identifies us with Christ’s death on the cross, His burial in the tomb and His resurrection from the dead. It is a symbol of your new life as a Christian. We bury the “old life” and we rise to walk in a “new life”. Baptism is an outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart, a commitment that has to be followed through and lived out on a daily basis.
Colossians 2:13-14
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. Baptism in Water for Believers Matthew 28:19-20 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”