WHO WE ARE
Our Mission
Our mission, is born out of the great commission as stated in Mat 28:18-20 and greatest command to love God and people found in Mark 12:30-31, Mat 22:37-39, Luke 10:27
Reaching the community for Christ, by equipping believers to show the love of God through service and worship.
Our Values
Loving God, Loving People
We are a church that comes together, to grow, to go!
Prayer
Prayer is the beginning point of everything we do.
2 Chronicles 7:13-16, Philippians 4:6, Hebrews 11:6
Bible based
The Bible is God’s written revelation to us and is our guiding principle in worship, service and life. The theology of the church is based on the Bible plus nothing, and the Bible minus nothing. We aim to be doers and not just hearers of the Word.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, Psalm 119:105
Christ centered
The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are foundational to our faith.
1 Corinthians 15:12-19, Hebrews 12:2-3
Spirit empowered
The Holy Spirit is God’s agent on earth so that He can do His work through us.
Ephesians 5:17-20, Galatians 5:16-25
Mission focussed
The church has been given the responsibility to take the Good News of Jesus Christ to all the world and we will seek to do our part in that.
Genesis 12:1-2, John 4:35-38, Matthew 28:18-20
Community involved
We live in a society that is broken and hurting and that needs to see and experience the love of God through His people.
Matthew 5:16, Matthew 25:34-40
Priesthood of all believers
We believe there is no distinction between laity and clergy, that every believer is called to fulfil a God-given ministry, and that all saints are called to pray, evangelize and disciple others. We believe part of the leadership’s role is to equip everyone for the works God has called them to fulfil.
1 Peter 2: 5 & 9, Ephesians 4:11-13, Ephesians 2:10
Friendship not just function
We want our friendships to be real, knowing and being known, infused with the genuine love of Christ. We don’t want them only existing because we are working together on some ministry task.
John 15:15, 1 Peter 1:22-23, Romans 12:9-10, Hebrews 10:24
Covenantal relationships
The church of God is more than a club where people only stick together with those who are like them. We also need to love people who are different to us, who may not be our natural friends. When we stick together, working through issues and differences, we enter into the realm of covenantal friendship.
1 John 4: 7-12, Romans 12:4, Ephesians 4:29
All part of a team
The previous values lead into this value. The character of the Trinity is most clearly seen when fellow Christians work as a team in maturity, love and unity. Too many churches have 20 percent of the body carrying 80 percent of the load. Our goal is to be a church where each part does their part.
Ephesians 4:15 -16, 1 Corinthians 12:12-26
Plurality of elders
We believe the biblical model is for the church is to be led by a team of elders. This ensures accountability and unity and that a greater load may be carried. There is safety in seeking the Lord together and move ahead through consultation and prayerful agreement.
Acts 20:17-18, Acts 15:22, Philippians 1:1, 1Peter 5:1-4
Meet the Team
Kevin Coker
(Elder)
Kevin and Judith were married in 1981 and have three adult sons and a growing tribe of grandchildren. They have lived in Wairarapa most of their working lives and farming is their livelihood.
Kevin is an elder and a trustee and on the finance team. Kevin and Judith lead a life group together. For many years Kevin was a leader in the church youth ministry. Judith has been involved in children’s and youth ministries and also attends a women’s life group.
Kevin and Judith love ministering through hospitality at their rural Carterton property with its many animals. Judith is known as the cow whisperer and makes great peanut brownies, while like many a good kiwi bloke Kevin has finely honed barbecue skills.
Phil Clark
(Elder)
Phil and Mary-Ann where married in 2011 and they have a ‘blended family’ of four adult sons, and they have eight grandchildren between them. Phil and Mary-Ann have both lived most of their lives in Masterton. Phil is semi-retired after nearly 40 years in retail and Mary-Ann has her own Homewares/Interiors shop in Masterton. They love spending time together, travelling away when they can, walking, and spending time with their family. Mary-Ann loves to get into the garden when time permits.
Phil and Mary-Ann have attended the Lighthouse Church for since 2018 and Phil became an Elder early in 2023. Phil has a keen interest in Christian Apologetics and Bible eschatology and Mary-Ann enjoys regularly attending a ladies Home group. Phil is also one of the founding members of Learn And Live Ministries back in the1980’s and is still involved as Board member in 2023.
“We love to see people come to Christ and grow in their love for Jesus.”
Andrew Woodbridge
(Pastor)
Andrew and Tania were married in 2001 and they have four children, three of whom are homeschooled. They immigrated from South Africa to New Zealand in 2019 when a ministry opportunity opened for them in Auckland.
Andrew is a pastor and has been a life-long student of the Bible, having studied through the Bible Institute in Cape Town, South Africa and more recently through Carey Baptist College. He has served as a pastor to young adults and youth since 2004, as an elder since 2020, and has been preaching since 2006. He has a heart for all people, both young and old, and is passionate about equipping the body of Christ for service and reaching the lost with the Gospel. He enjoys reading, writing, sketching, playing piano and a good old South African braai (BBQ)!
Tania has a degree in Christian Ministries as well as a diploma in Childhood development, she has served for many years as a Children’s ministry coordinator and is experienced in mobilizing and training young leaders for Christian service through Holiday Bible Clubs, camps, and dance & discipleship ministries. She enjoys dancing and crochet and imparting a Christian worldview through homeschooling.
Our Story
The Lighthouse Church story began in 1997 when the leadership of the Queen Street Bible Church (Open Brethren) decided to move away from the traditional church facility and model.
This led them the planting of a contemporary church with modern music and style that would reach out to unchurched people with the lifesaving message of Jesus Christ.
The church met initially in the hall of the former Harley Street School, and as it grew in numbers to Makoura College Hall, as well as having offices in central Masterton. Its first pastor was church planter Torrey Hilton.
In October 2005 the Lighthouse Church Charitable Trust, together with Harvest Trust, purchased the Sedgley Family Centre in Intermediate Street.
With time and money donated by church members, a building project began in November 2006 and culminated in a grand opening service in the new auditorium in June 2007.
These facilities form the current home for our wider church gatherings and are seen as a wonderful tool to facilitate the calling God has given us.
Since its early days the church has continued with the vision of seeking to fulfil the great commission by sharing the Gospel and the love of Jesus with the local community and with other nations.
Over the years it has been involved with many initiatives that have been designed to be a blessing to the Wairarapa community and beyond.