Missions
Mission Statement
Karen Pasquariello heads the Mission Team
To help achieve a clear sense of direction
To build confidence and cohesion in the total church ministry
To promote thoughtful evaluation of issues and avoid making haphazard or emotional decisions
To prevent confusion, inconsistency, misunderstanding and hurt feelings
To insure better stewardship of human and financial resources
To insure accountability in the missions program
To define the relationship of Lighthouse to the missionary and missions agency
To inform church members, missionaries and agencies of the principles by which the missions committee operates
To help new missions committee members quickly familiarize themselves with the purpose, direction and operation of the mission’s program
To maintain consistency as missions committee members change
About Our Missions
Lighthouse Bible Church is working to reach the nations to share the gospel of Christ in BIG ways! Our Missions Team was formed August 7, 2016 and is headed by Karen Pasquariello. Lighthouse has supported a missionary in Africa for over two years now and has also supported short term missions trips to Haiti for multiple missionaries. For a small church, we have a mighty large reach!
Our mission statement is: Lighthouse seeks to develop passionate disciples of Jesus Christ who desire to know God and make Him known. Accordingly, it shall be the policy of this church to support home and foreign missions engaged in carrying out the New Testament program of missions as set forth in Matt 28:19-20 and Eph 4:11-12.
Our church supports the Christian World Outreach (CWO), a ministry that helps to spread the Word to Burkina Faso, Haiti, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe.
Fulfilling the Great Commission would include the following:
Evangelization of the lost through the proclamation of the gospel. ( Mark 16:5; Luke 24:46, 47; Romans 10:13-15; 1 Cor 9:18-23)
Making disciples ( Matt 28:19; 1 Cor 11:1; Luke 6:40)
Teaching Bible doctrine (Matt 28:20; Col 1:28; 2Tim 4:1-3)
Church planting (Matt 17:16-18)
Church leadership development (2 Tim 2:2)
Church development (Eph 4:11-14; Acts 20:28)
Minister to the totality of human need by providing food, shelter and clothing to those in need (Matt 10:42; Matt 25:31-46; Luke 16:19-31)
Translation and dissemination of the Scriptures (Nehemiah 8:8; Acts 2:8-11; Acts 10:13-17; Rev 5:9)
While it is recognized that the physical and social needs of man may need to be met as part of a Gospel ministry, the emphasis of missions is upon meeting the spiritual needs of mankind.
On August 7, 2016, Lighthouse had its first missions committee meeting. We suppport missionaries in the U.S., Haiti, Burkina Faso and Sri Lanka and short term mission trips to Haiti and Africa. When one thinks of our little church, that is amazing!
Much prayer and thought went into the creation of our Missions outreach.
Our missions statement is: Lighthouse seeks to develop passionate disciples of Jesus Christ who desire to know God and make Him known. Accordingly, it shall be the policy of this church to support home and foreign missions engaged in carrying out the New Testament program of missions as set forth in Matt 28:19-20 and Eph 4:11-12.
Why We Do Missions
Because our Lord commissions us to do so. Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Proclaiming the Gospel and planting churches is the strategy to accomplish God’s redemptive purposes for the World. Many will say we need to take care of our own here in the states. That is true, however, we belong to a Global Family. Our family is not just here in the US, we need to be careful that we do not foster a narrow world view, our ministry must reach beyond our local borders. Our mission’s policy is strategic in ministering globally, that includes local, national, and international outreach.
There are 5.5 million full time Christian workers in the world. 75.9% work in a context among a large percentage of evangelical Christian population. 23.7% work in a context of greater than 2% evangelical Christians. .37% work among the unreached. There are 6,741 unreached people groups in the world. The definition of an unreached people group is a population that has less than 2% evangelical Christians. These 6,741 groups make up 42.2% of the global population- that is 3.14 billion people. Less than 1% of full time Christian workers are ministering to these groups.
Going to places where Christian are a minority is not the same as ministering to those from unreached people groups coming to us. Why? Because when folks come to us, they have access to Christians, churches, resources, relationship… Those in unreached areas may live their whole lives and never meet a Christian.
Lighthouse Bible Church is having a global impact fulfilling the Great Commission. We support Greg and Laura Yoder with Christian World Outreach. Greg is responsible for overseeing the ministries in Haiti, Burkina Faso, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
Lighthouse also supports ministries in three different countries. In Sri Lanka: Children's after school program, evangelism and Bible studies, meeting needs of orphans and widows, discipleship and youth ministry. In Burkina Faso: vocational learning center and dormitory for young girls from the villages, mobile clinic, chicken and farm projects. In Haiti: Church and leadership development, feminine training centers, and children's feeding programs.While meeting the needs of others, the main focus is to share the Gospel with the lost.
Big ideas, real impact.
Testimonials
Karen Pasquariello | Missions Director
Going back to Haiti renewed my love for Haiti and the excitement of taking a team to experience God working in a different country and culture. I remembered as we were flying into Haiti above the mountains and my mind was flooded with memories of my past experiences. It felt like going home, the sights, sounds, smells so familiar to me. And yet, I was saddened by the lack of progress in Haiti, it is still so poor, and the people struggle daily. But then to see the smiling faces, the love they have for our God and their willingness to share from the little bounty they have. It was a blessing to me to observe each of you, not only in preparation for the trip but to see your eyes opened as you served. And what a blessing it was to receive positive feedback from Greg and the Haitians about your love and serving hearts.
The demonic attacks were a powerful reminder of whom we serve and that the battle is real. The trip renewed my desire to take more teams on mission trips and to give financially to the work of CWO. The question I continue to ask myself is, "what am I doing now?" I have had the privilege of helping a missionary who served in Haiti and several Haitian families who live here. I have shared with many about my Haiti trip and the victory we experienced in Jesus name. I have committed to being a support to Greg and Laura Yoder in whatever way I can and as mission’s director of our church, to make sure we help meet their needs and to serve them as our church missionaries. And yet, I am daily reminded that there is so much more I can do.
Ted Dudak | Pastor
During my entire redeemed life, I was never called to the mission field, but that changed. 2 years ago, when Karen was putting a team together to go to Haiti, I never even considered it. Although I’m a strong advocate for missions I just never felt called to pursue one. When Karen considered I pray about it, I became overwhelmed. And I thought to myself, how can a preach on missions if I’ve never been? What happened there changed my life of course. Battling the demonic activity, I also thought, how can I preach on demonic activity or the demonic spiritual realm if I’ve never experienced it? God wanted me on that mission trip I believe for a few reasons; to if you never were on a mission trip, I would ask you to pray about that.
Tracy Golden
My Haiti trip started before I went to Haiti. Then finding this desire was going to be fact made me feel like a child at Christmas. Little did I know the impact Haiti would have on my life. I saw God at work and how he changed lives. I also witnessed God’s power. The devil had been trying all week to interrupt. All God had to do was show up and the devil had to leave. What a humbling experience that was for me. Also, I felt the excitement God feels when someone comes home. Haiti forever changed me I know who I am in Christ and without a doubt God never leaves. His love and grace cannot compare to anything this world tries to offer. There is a passion for my Lord and a desire to do what He wants. Yes, my life has been changed forever. Haiti was just stepping off point my trip did not end there it continues today.
I am helping a home bound man get to the grocery store each week. And have become his social connection to the outside world. He sees Gods love shining through me every time I sit with him and he tell me about his WW2 stories. He was a pilot who flew 33 missions. Every time he took off there was a 30 percent chance he would not come back. He was shot down twice but never captured.
Also, I have been getting food to help feed a Haitian family. Unless you have been in the situation where you don’t know where you next meal is coming from or if you can feed you children you will not understand what an amazing ministry this is. When you are able to help someone feed their children it softens the hardest heart. I am going to show God’s love and grace through my life every day.
I am going to leave you with a challenge and a question? Change someone’s life today. If God were standing in front of you would He see you sitting on the fence or are you setting that fence on fire?