September 5, 2007
Dear Lighthouse Family:
As you are probably aware, we have begun the process of preparing to build a new worship center and children’s wing. This building will be an important tool that will help us accomplish our vision of growing our community. We are calling this process The Great Adventure.
I am writing this letter to ask you to prayerfully consider your attendance at each of the small group meetings that are an essential element of The Great Adventure. These meetings are very important as we will be discussing the future of our church. This letter gives you the details of your personal involvement in these meetings.
The Great Adventure begins the weekend of September 9th. On Sunday, September 23rd, we will begin a series of small group meetings called HIS meetings (Home Information Sessions) at host homes. We will use these meetings to inform everyone about all aspects of our new building. There will be opportunity for discussion, feedback, and fellowship. There will be no pressure exerted or any commitment expected at any of these meetings.
These Home Information Sessions and Bible Studies will be held on September 23rd, 30th, and October 21st. The meetings will be held from 6-7:30 pm on each of these dates. Each meeting will cover different material. Please set each of these evenings aside to learn, to discuss, and to share in fellowship. These meetings will establish the foundation of information and inspiration we need to be successful in discerning and implementing God’s plan for us. Please help us to plan and to pray for the future God has for us by your faithful attendance.
Your family will be notified of the exact location of your HIS meeting as the dates draw near. I have asked a caller to confirm your attendance and to give you directions to your host’s home. Should you need childcare while you attend the meetings, please RSVP to the church office, 972-562-2500.
In October, as we conclude the campaign, we will each make a decision as to our own personal financial commitment for the future of the vision. The entire objective of The Great Adventure is to equip us to seek the Lord’s guidance and then to act in accordance with that guidance and to trust Him for the outcome both personally and corporately. This decision will be entirely between you and God.
The HIS meetings are extremely important in preparing us for those decisions. I know I can count on you being there.
Thank you for your faithfulness,
Pastor David Vestal
July 5, 2007
Dear Lighthouse Family, I pray this letter finds you all doing well and walking in the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. I want to share with you some exciting things that God has birthed in the hearts of the leadership here at Lighthouse.
As you know, the journey for Lighthouse Christian Fellowship has been a God ordained and supernatural walk of faith. In 2001, God called us to plant a church and then immediately provided an auditorium for our use. What a blessing; no meeting in a school; no putting up and tearing down sound equipment or chairs after each service like many start-up churches have to do. God then even provided office space; not only did the church not have to pay for the space, but we made money on the arrangement! In just one year (2002) God supernaturally made available the land that we are on today and then provided the finances to pay for it. We immediately started building. In two years (2003) we had a building and the building was full the first weekend. The very next year (2004) we had to add additional parking due to the accelerated growth and visitors coming to see what God was doing. In 2005, we had to expand our building for the youth and children’s ministry to provide for the growth that God brought. That same year we had a gentleman approach the church offering us his land at a reduced rate. This is the property at the corner of Prosper Trail and Custer Road adjacent to the church. We were not looking for land and didn’t see a need for it, but it was such a blessing financially that we felt sure God was leading- And He was. God once again provided the funds for us to purchase the additional 5 acres.
Today we know why God gave us the additional land. Our present facilities are stretched to the limit. Because of the growth and work that God is doing at Lighthouse and in this community, we have had to add services. As our current 3 services begin to fill up, we are contemplating when to start a 4th service. Since January of this year we, as the Elders and Pastors, have felt God telling us it is time to build again. We have prayed, fasted, and sought counsel and believe that God is directing us once again to step out and expand our borders in order to minister to and sustain the life that God has brought and is continuing to bring. A building process will take 2-3 years from start to finish. And where will we be then - 5 maybe 6 services?
Every step is a new step towards being a blessing to the community in which God has placed us. Parking lots, buildings and land are not the focus; people are and will continue to be the focus. It’s not up to us how big Lighthouse gets, but it is up to us to be faithful stewards. God continues to trust us with more growth and life. The buildings that we build are structures to contain, serve and bless the life that God is breathing into Lighthouse Christian Fellowship.
For the last 6 months we have sought the counsel of many great men and women of God that have gone through this growth stage and have seen the hand of God move. All have confirmed our Word to build. We have talked with these men and women and sought their input on how to keep this process about people and not money or buildings.
I consider it a great privilege and honor to be one of the pastors of such a tremendous church and thank each and every one of you for your participation in Lighthouse and the work God has ordained for us. Remember, there are thousands of people coming to the Collin County area and someone needs to tell them about Jesus. Let’s make that someone us.
Serving together,
Pastor David Vestal
