APRIL 18, 2024

Lakeshore Friends—

This past Tuesday, as we mentioned in services last Sunday, Lakeshore celebrated its 29^th birthday.  I love to tell the story of our very first service.  Looking back, April 16, 1995 was such an amazing day in our history!  

The weather was nice but chilly.  After three practice services the previous Sundays, and after 14,464 direct mailers were sent out to all homeowners 54 years old and younger (I was only 33 years old back then), Lakeshore held its first public service...  In a bar...  At the Marriott hotel...  That held 75 adults comfortably...  The rest had to sit in a booth and watch the service...   Seated sideways (you paid a price for being late back then).  On that day, 112 people showed up and three people became Christians in the somewhat beer-scented bar.  It was an exciting day for our family and many others.  Lakeshore Church was born. 

God has done amazing things since then:

» 795 people have been baptized

» About 1,300 people have professed a first-time faith in Christ

» Just over half of our attenders are involved in serving somewhere in the church

» We’ve given away about $1.3 million dollars to world missions to impact our world for Jesus

We are still just as passionate about reaching people in Rochester as we were 29 years ago!  That’s not the norm for churches, because most gradually turn inward and focus on their own needs.  I am convinced that our best days are still ahead of us.  I hope you are too.

Thank you for your part in helping Lakeshore fulfill God’s mission in the world.  Sue and I thank God for you!  After God, you’re the reason why we’re still helping people discover and develop a growing relationship with Jesus.

And next year, for our 30^th anniversary, we will be celebrating in style with a great event for which plans are already in the works. Save the date: Friday, March 28, 2025!

Happy birthday to you, to us!

Warmly,
Vince

APRIL 11, 2024

Lakeshore Friends—

I’m really concerned about what’s happening to children today.  One of the most incredibly tragic (and evil) trends I see happening all around is how our children are being systematically torn down at almost every turn.

It starts with an alarming number of parents who allow their kids to be fed a lot of negative things with little to no concern of how damaging it will be to them.  Not long ago, for example, I was observing some kids playing in the yard with some music playing pretty loud.  One of the songs that played just repeated the refrain, “F--- that!” every few lines… again and again and again.  I wondered why their parents (who were home) would let kids so young listen to such coarse music? 

It’s also in our culture where so many voices that have the attention of our children throughout the day are feeding them a steady stream of lies.  Like the radical ideology that tells them they are whatever they feel like they are.  Frequently this is done in full denial of objective reality, like when a child thinks they were born the wrong gender.  They live with little to no certainty of who God made them to be and why they are fearfully and wonderfully made by Him!  Yet, a lot of parents aren’t aware of this intentional indoctrination.  Some just pretend it isn’t harming their children and just want to “go along to get along”.  Worse yet, some even support it.

As these children grow up, what will they become?  In the most optimistic terms, they will become less than they could be in character, in charity toward others, and as contributing members of society.  Only time will tell what the actual answer will be.  This concerns me deeply.

This is why we began a new series on parenting last Sunday, Parenting Isn’t For Cowards.  I want anyone who will listen to be the best parents they possibly can be by applying the truth of God’s Word to their parenting practices.  The more parents do this, the more likely they are to raise godly kids who are confident, make positive contributions to society, have less heartache as they grow up, and most importantly add to the list of people who live to honor and glorify the God who made them with their one and only life.  Just like the kids who gave of their time last week to serve others at Flower City Work Camp.  There are so many great kids all around, but we want that number to grow.

If we don’t turn it around really soon, our nation won’t be strong and free for much longer (see Proverbs 14:34, 2 Chronicles 7:14).

So let’s do what we can to learn how to be the best parents and best adult models for every child that we can as we learn about parenting over the next few weeks. Our children are counting on us to show them the way.

Warmly,
Vince

APRIL 4, 2024

Lakeshore Friends—

As we celebrated the greatest weekend in the history of the world this past weekend, we hope that the Good Friday service and the three Easter services helped you seek out and worship God as deeply as you ever have.  So many of you fasted, prayed, invited and welcomed new families over the weekend.  We know and trust that God used it all.  About 1,450 people were a part of these services.

So what I want to do is say to all you, “thank you”! Thank you to everyone who…

…fasted and prayed for part or all of a day for Easter. 

…invited people to services, regardless of whether they attended or not.

…served God in some capacity this past weekend (including all the hard work put into creating the cross and tomb scene in the Atrium!).

…welcomed our guests and made them feel welcomed.

I’m extremely proud of being the pastor of a church so filled with incredible people like you.  Ministry is hard, sometimes really, really hard.  But you all make it so much easier by your love for God and support for our Staff, Elders, Trustees, LEAD Team (ministry team leaders), and the church in general.  We talk at staff meetings often about what a great collection of people God has given to Lakeshore.

Most of all, I am thankful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for making the incredible sacrifices He made and the miraculous resurrection He displayed to make eternal life available for all!

Thanks again to all of you!  It’s so exciting to be partners with you in doing God’s work in Rochester and in the world.

Warmly,
Vince