LCM Spotlight
Dan Willis
If you build it, they will come . . .
Those words are from the movie Field
of Dreams, and while I loved the Kevin
Costner flick, I had never witnessed
the true meaning of the movie’s theme
until I set foot in Lighthouse Church of
All Nations. I don’t go to church on a
regular basis—honestly, I can count on
one hand the amount of times I make
it in a year. However, I will make an
exception if someone personally invites
me.
A member, who also happens to be
my editor, invited me to Pastor Dan’s
church one Sunday, and I was impressed
by three things: his humor, the way he delivered his message, and the fact that
church started on time. His sermon had a bit of that old 7-day revival feel, but
none of the fire and brimstone guilt-laden diatribe that is turning folks away
from churches in droves.
I have to backtrack, because I was actually impressed by a fourth thing: the
unbelievable connection that this pastor of such a large church has with his
members. At one point during his sermon, while practically mid-sentence, he
swept a gaze across the congregation, and stopped when his eyes landed on the
woman who invited me. “Happy Birthday, Sister Janice,” he said, then picked
right up where his sermon left off. You could have blown me over with a puff of
air. Full congregation … hundreds of people … and he remembered my friend.
Even more than his message, his well-wishes to my friend was something that
I’ll never forget. I made it a point to shake his hand after service and tell him
as much.