Current Events 3

May 18, 2009

Leadership Team at Lighthouse Community Church,

When Susy and I moved to this community twelve years ago, we could have never imagined all that has taken place. In that time we have been blessed to move from planting a vision in an existing church to planting a brand new church. In an age when pastoral tenures are typically less than three years, we have been blessed to minister here for twelve. During that time we have rejoiced with you as we have seen babies born and children grow to adulthood, and mourned with you as saints have gone on to see Jesus. In all we have come to regard this community as our home and you, most especially, as our dearest of friends.

Lighthouse Church was planted with a vision of providing a church for people who had given up on church; a safe place to hear the dangerous, life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. We believed, and still do, that as God brings revival and spiritual awakening to its full fruition in Washington County and beyond, Lighthouse will play a significant role in making it happen.

On May 17, 2009, Raleigh Road Baptist Church in Wilson , NC (www.raleighroad.com) formally extended a call to me to serve as Senior Pastor. After much prayer, reflection and discussion with my family, I have accepted that call. While I am excited about the door God has opened, I am saddened to depart from the work at Lighthouse. It is with a heavy heart, then, that I submit my resignation as Pastor at Lighthouse Community Church , effective June 30, 2009. As I shared with the church, our son David will be remaining in Nashville until August, at which time he will be attending SIUC. It is his intention to remain a part of the LCC Band while he attends school there.

It has been my ambition to be able to say, like Paul, that I ''have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly...have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God'' (Acts 20:20, 27). To the Leadership Team, I encourage you, as Paul did the elders at the church in Ephesus, to ''keep watch over yourselves and over the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers'' (Acts 20:28) And, I will ''commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified'' (Acts 20:32).

May God bless His Word and His Kingdom's work at Lighthouse Community Church , now and forever.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Rob Pochek