Every month, or so, I'd like to hi-lite one of our 29-new start-up worshipping communities. Each one is planted with the same vision--- to reach unreached people with the gospel. Each one is also planted with a different purpose, because every mission field is different. Gone are the days of the cookie-cutter Lutheran Church. Planting with a focus on transforming the city by the power of the Holy Spirit is NOW our best method of reaching the cracks and crevices of the culture with the hope of Christ!
In January, we looked at Waterside Missional Community in Rockport, Texas. In this blog, we shine light on a missional community that is looking to shine light on Pleasant Hill, Iowa--- Lighthouse!
Lighthouse is being led by Pastor Noah Ruppert and his spouse Emily (by the way, the Ruppert's are expecting their first child in about a month!). When Lighthouse was born about a year ago, it started meeting as 5 couples in a home with the expectation to serve as a small group ministry that left the confines and comforts of a home's 4-walls, and start meeting and serving IN the community. Why? So their lights might so shine before others to see their good works and GLORIFY their Father in heaven! (Matthew 5:16). The partners of Lighthouse are seeking to be light in the midst of darkness!
Therefore, Lighthouse likes to meet for Bible study and prayer in certain restaurants (like the Pleasant Hill Diner) so they can been seen, heard and encountered by the help and customers on a regular basis. The group is expecting this strategy will develop relationships and trust from others--- which will lead to healing the sick and proclaiming the kingdom of God has drawn near! Where does Lighthouse draw its strategy? From Jesus himself! See LUKE 10:1-9...and Prayer Evangelism:
Biblical Step-1. Lighthouse wants to bless and speak peace wherever they go, verse 5. They are focusing on praying for the people and agencies of the city (schools, businesses, government) and will soon begin prayer-walking the streets to usher light over darkness.
Biblical Step-2. Lighthouse wants to stay connected, rather than quickly jumping from place-to- place so meaningful relationships and trust can be developed, verse 7. Already they have adopted a local elementary school and are working with the school's nurse to get connected to families that need a variety of assistance-- including friendship and hope. Lighthouse expects the Holy Spirit will connect them to unchurched people who will soon be joining them in blessing others!
Biblical Step-3. According to Jesus, when steps-1-and-2 are implanted by the Holy Spirit, the spirit of Lighthouse will gain greater access to helping people who are "sick," see verse 9a. (healing relational sickness, spiritual sickness and material sickness). Because their financial over-head is next to nothing (Noah's paycheck comes from serving as the worship leader of Lutheran Church of the Cross in Altoona, IA), the group is able to receive offerings and then invest them into the community. This not only blesses a "community need" in the name of Jesus, but is giving Lighthouse a local reputation as "givers," breaking many people's immature perception that Christians are only interested in themselves.
Biblical Step-4. Lighthouse then wants to shine on being welcomed into people's lives--- sharing the faith that ushers-in a new kind of kingdom, verse 9b, so others may share in the breakthrough for the city of Pleasant Hill. There is no pushing, no condemning, no judging. Instead, it's natural and loving--- just the way Jesus himself trained his 72 disciples in order to see Satan's darkness fall like lightning and God's reign rule with light!
Friends: As demonstrated by both Waterside and Lighthouse, the power of missional communities is they are fluid and flexible, featuring low costs with high financial impact. MC's communicate the church is about believers shining-out the faith into the every day marketplace, rather than just inside a temple. For more information on Lighthouse Ministries, contact Noah Ruppert at: ndruppert@gmail.com.
ATTENTION! Eagle Ranch Church in Albuquerque, NM is looking for a new pastor! The recent plant is a daughter-congregation of Faith Lutheran in Albuquerque, and is seeking a new leader now that Pastor David Breidenbach has been named the Director for Eastern European Ministries. If interested, contact me: dan@lcmc.net.
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