HOW WE SHEPHERD
We long to be a church centered on Jesus Christ, rooted in Scripture, devoted to the growth of young people, and sent to proclaim the gospel.
The Light of Life Christian Church is located in Baltimore, Maryland, on the East Coast of the United States. The church was formally established in 2021 and has now been serving for five years. It was founded to minister to students and scholars of Johns Hopkins University across its schools, together with their families and the surrounding community.
Because we live among young students and scholars, we have from the beginning given special attention to campus youth — walking with them as they come to know God, establish their faith, and grow in Christ during the years of study and daily life.
Our church and fellowship gatherings together number about 30 to 45 people. Though we are not large, we treasure the spiritual growth of every believer, and we long to be a community that knows one another, cares for one another, and grows together.
Our vision is to see young people at Johns Hopkins University and neighboring campuses become heirs of the Christian faith, trainers of Christ's disciples, and bearers of the gospel (Matt. 28:18–20).
We pray that young believers will not only receive the gospel themselves, but after knowing the Lord, continue to influence others and pass on the love and truth of God. We long to see them greatly used by the Lord — as participants in the church and in gospel ministry, and even as faithful co-workers and a blessing to other churches.
In the life of this church, we give ourselves to three directions:
We want believers to study Scripture with seriousness, and to understand the Word of God — not remaining only in surface experiences of faith. A healthy believer needs a foundation built on God's Word (Eph. 4:13–14).
Christian growth cannot rest on human effort alone; it depends on the work of the Holy Spirit. Prayer is therefore an essential part of the believer's life (1 Thess. 5:16–18).
We do not want believers to remain only inside the church, but to carry a burden for neighbors and the communities where they live, and to bring the gospel to more people (Rom. 10:14–15).
TLOLCC follows a “pastor-and-deacons” model of leadership. Pastors are primarily responsible for spiritual direction, the course of the church, and pastoral care. The board of pastors and deacons takes part in discussing and deciding matters of importance. Major decisions are brought before this board, discussed with care, and then made together by vote.
This way of leading shows that the church is not directed by one person alone, but seeks the Lord's leading through conversation and partnership with one another (Luke 17:10; Rom. 12:3, 11; Phil. 2:3; 1 Thess. 5:18; 1 Tim. 1:12).
To keep authority from gathering in a single person, the pastors and deacons watch over one another. The church has two pastors who share the same direction in ministry and the same understanding of the truth, and who keep a healthy relationship with the deacons and co-workers.
In finances, the church is overseen by a finance committee, so that income and expense remain open and transparent, rather than being managed by one person alone. This is for the health of the church, and to keep power from becoming concentrated.
In choosing and forming church leaders, we look first at the character of a believer's life — not merely at ability. We believe a life fit for church leadership should include these marks:
A church leader should let holiness be seen in life and conduct, as a witness to the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:15–16).
A church leader should keep a daily habit of reading Scripture and of prayer, and live with a settled rhythm — a mature life that can build up and make disciples (Ps. 5:3).
A church leader should love the Lord and love people, reflecting the servant-leadership of Jesus — faithfully shepherding the flock, not lording it over those entrusted to them, but being an example to the sheep (1 Pet. 1:1–3).
The church presently carries several primary ministries. Student ministry is first among them, for the church was founded to serve students and scholars on campus.
Pastors lead and keep communication among the ministries. Those who oversee each work also stay in close conversation, serving the church together. On Sundays the ministries coordinate as one; in missions the whole church is invited to take part. In this way members with different gifts join in building up the body (Eph. 4:7, 16; 1 Pet. 4:10).
We take the spiritual growth of believers to heart. In a hurried world, many things easily become stones in the path of a disciple. The church hopes to help members clear away those stones — whatever hinders a person from God — so that they may pursue growth with a quieter heart.
We also know that it is God Himself who makes a person grow, not human effort. What the church offers is faithful help and companionship.
In practice, we help one another mainly through discipleship and the study of Scripture. Pastors lead brothers and sisters in the Word, so that they may be grounded in the truth. At the same time, we encourage believers to go out and share the gospel, so that faith does not remain only as knowledge, but is lived in ordinary life.
Sit with Scripture, come to know the Word of God, and form a daily habit of devotion and prayer.
Go out and practice the faith — meeting God in service and in the work of evangelism.
When brothers and sisters meet hardship or grow weak, the first thing we do is pray. Prayer is the most important path, because our strength is limited. Some troubles cannot be solved by our help alone. The One who holds all things is God.
Besides prayer, the church also seeks to understand what is needed — through conversation, listening, and simply being present. Where practical help can be given, we will do what we can.
Human companionship matters. Yet we believe it is still God who changes a life and answers a trouble. The heart of our care is not to rely on ourselves, but to bring a person wholly before the Lord (Col. 1:28).
The clearest mark of TLOLCC is this: we are a church that primarily serves young people, yet we are also a church of three generations — the old, the middle-aged, and the young — gathered as one family.
Because we live among students, scholars, and young families, the congregation is comparatively young and full of life. Compared with many churches, we give especial care to the spiritual growth of the young — hoping to see them established in the faith, becoming heirs of the gospel, and even a blessing to other churches in the years to come.
We are grateful to see the Lord's work among the young — some who are willing to give themselves for the gospel, to serve, and to make Christ known. This is a gift we hold dear.
The church has also prepared a scholarship for seminary students, to help young Christians clearly called to full-time ministry study at seminary while serving in the church — so that knowing the Lord and serving people may grow together in balance.
The most important foundation of a healthy church's pastoral care and leadership is to love the Lord.
Luke 10:27 · 1 Cor. 16:22
Every ministry to people, every form of leadership, and every work of growth is finally not for human glory, but to love the Lord, to glorify God, and that people might be saved (1 Cor. 10:31, 33). If a person does not love the Lord, even with ability it is hard to serve according to the heart of God. A healthy way of leading the church is not measured only by how complete its structures are, or how efficient its organization. What matters more is whether those who serve truly love the Lord, whether they are willing to obey God, and whether they love their neighbor as themselves and build up the church according to the Lord's heart.
In all, the Light of Life Christian Church hopes to be a church centered on Jesus Christ, rooted in Scripture, devoted to the growth of the young, and willing to proclaim the gospel. Through the partnership of pastors, deacons, co-workers, and brothers and sisters, every member may grow in Christ and take part together in the mission God has entrusted to us.
COME WALK WITH US
Whether you are a believer, a seeker, or simply curious — there is a place for you here.