by Pastor Patrick Cho
While our Sunday services actually began in December 1998, this fledgling church was still getting things organized and figuring out how the various ministries were going to operate. Thus, the official inaugural Sunday for San Diego Lighthouse Bible Church was scheduled for May 2, 1999. It was a wonderful celebration seeing the ministry get off the ground. Pastor Chris Mueller came to preach for us, our first church leaders were installed, and our charter members were sworn in. Guests came in from all over to encourage us and celebrate together with us. There was a great feeling of jubilation that weekend!
A week later, the crowds were gone. Our small group of believers immediately felt the weight that comes with the daunting task of church planting in San Diego. While the group was significantly smaller, the worship was no less sincere. We were not just going through the motions of church ministry. We were offering our lives and service to the Lord.
We didn’t have everything figured out. We had no denominational affiliation nor were we planted by another church ministry, but we resolved to depend on the Lord every step of the way in faith and prayer. The church committed itself to maintaining a high view of God and a high view of His Word. We promised to be peacemakers and pursue God-honoring forgiveness and reconciliation in case of conflict. Our great desire was to shine the light of Christ in our community and even to the ends of the world.
Recently, the Lighthouse San Diego church family was overjoyed to celebrate 20 years of ministry. It is hard to believe that 20 years have gone by! Our anniversary weekend was a tremendous blessing especially because it was a sweet reunion and time of worship together with members visiting from all the Lighthouse churches. We were pleased to have both Dr. John MacArthur and Pastor John Kim preach for us. It was sweet to hear testimonies and words of encouragement from Pastors Mark Chin, James Lee, and John Kim, the other Lighthouse Alliance pastors. What a blessing to remember all the manifold displays of the Lord’s faithfulness over the years.
But now that a couple weeks have passed since that anniversary celebration, we are back to our normal routine. Sunday services and midweek fellowships continue. As the excitement of the major milestone wanes, it is good to remember once again what we committed to as a ministry from the outset: that we are not just going through the motions of church ministry. We are not simply maintaining some program. That in whatever we do, in whatever ways we serve, we offer that service to the Lord in worship.
What is most encouraging about being part of a church family that has changed drastically from the small group that met 20 years ago? Although many of the old faces have now moved away and a slew of new faces have come in, the people remain committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ, taking the gospel to the ends of the earth through church planting ministry, and establishing this ministry on our love for the Lord and for each other.
Praise God for how He has carried us these 20 years! Praise God for His unending faithfulness and love. Praise God for the truth that His purposes cannot fail and His church will prevail. We obviously don’t know what the next 20 years might bring. There will probably be some pretty encouraging and even amazing moments. There will probably also be some significant challenges. May the Lord continue to walk with us and give us the wisdom and strength to be faithful and endure even through hardship.