Lakeside’s 35th Anniversary: Our Big Moments Are About You

The greatest moments of Lakeside have always been about you. Let me tell you what I mean. 

When we launched Lakeside Church in September 1987, we used a telemarketing campaign. It sounded like this:

“Hello. My name is Brad and I’m calling from Lakeside Church, a brand-new church we’re starting in Folsom in September. May I ask you two questions about it?”

The two questions were:

1) Are you actively involved in a local church?

2) May we send you some information about this new
                       church?

The first question was intended to find people who were not involved in church. We wanted to grow Lakeside by reaching people who were not already involved in church. No sheep stealing. 

The second question led to a mailing list with the names of 500 families. We sent a lot of mail in the next six weeks. On September 27, 1987, 55 people showed to Lakeside’s first Sunday gathering. 

For 35 years now, Lakeside has been seeking to transform as many people as possible into followers of Jesus. 

I often get uncomfortable when we talk about the history of Lakeside. The story often becomes too focused on me. (There are only a few of us who have been here for all 35 years.) Or the story focuses on land and buildings. Or on programs or staff. 

Here’s what I believe: The greatest moments of Lakeside have always been about you. Sure, you might not have joined with us until the last decade, or the last year, or the last month. But the greatest moments of Lakeside have always been about you. 

That’s what church is. It is reaching beyond our tribe to bring people to Jesus. It’s thinking about people who have yet to come, have yet to hear about Jesus. It’s about the present and the future, not just about the past. It’s about our children and our grandchildren.

As we celebrate 35 years of ministry in our community this month, remember this: It’s about Jesus. And it’s about you. The greatest moments of Lakeside have always been about you. Thanks for joining us in the adventure. What will the Lord Jesus do through us together in the next 35 years?