Mission Statement of the Church

At Lightshine we say, Gather Well, Scatter Better.

Covid-19 has changed the way that we gather (at least temporarily).  No more public gatherings for worship.  For a people driven by fear, this could be very scary.  No more worship?  NOPE......we can still worship, just not on Sunday's at 10:30 together at the YMCA like we are used to.  But we are not a people driven by fear, but by hope.

The question is: can we still gather in new, innovative ways?  Can we still be a worshipping community?  I believe that we can.  Can we continue to scatter better?  We know that we can.

Acts 1:8 gives us the mission statement of the Church.  Luke writes,

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’"

Jesus could easily say today, "You will be my witnesses in Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, and Newbury Park".  Covid-19 doesn't change the mission of the Church because our mission is to join God on God's mission.  Father, Son, and Spirit send the Church to join in this witness; the witness of Good News.  The love of God in Jesus Christ is Good News and needed in these moments, perhaps more than ever!

In this time of unprecedented need, the opportunities for being Christ' witnesses in our neighborhoods and community abound.

How will you live out the mission statement of the Church today?  When you do this, you will scatter better!

Let's share with each other concrete ways that we will commit to God's mission in our communities!  The mission statement of the Church from Acts 1:8 is a call to BE who we already are....we are witnesses to God's love in Jesus Christ.  Fear can paralyze us but mission can get us moving again!

Peace to you all.

Rob D.