Receiving an Inheritance

Published on June 30, 2008 by Brent Eldridge

It has been a real thrill to settle into the reality of coming home to Lakewood.  For over 60 years, the ministry of Lakewood has been a huge part of the greater Los Angeles area and beyond.  Kristin and I, along with our kids, have eagerly waited for our opportunity to dig in deep to the ministries of Lakewood—using our gifts to serve the Lord and His people in the context of this amazing local church ministry.  I think we would all agree that Lakewood has an amazing legacy.  Please allow me to share some thoughts about the inheritance we are all receiving.
 
In 1947, Pastor Norman MacPherson, with his wife and a handful of others, began the ministry of Lakewood.  Imagine the dreams of those charter members and ministers!  Nothing but an empty lot (purchased for $6000), a small home off Centralia (that housed the ministry the first year), and spirit-filled aspirations to impact this corner of the world for
Christ.
 
Pastor MacPherson passed the ministry torch to Pastor Harold Carlson, who led Lakewood for 17 years.  During his tenure, Pastor Carlson and those who worshiped at Lakewood saw new buildings go up (like our sanctuary and education buildings…even the log cabin!), and many people come to Christ and join the ministries of Lakewood.  
 
Following Pastor Carlson, the ministry was entrusted to Pastor James Borror, who led Lakewood for 20 years.  While serving at Lakewood, Pastor Borror ushered in many dynamic years of thorough and insightful Biblical teaching, ministry expansion (including the preschool, the elementary school, and the three-story Tanglewood Building), and a ministry impact that recorded over 1600 baptisms and a membership of over 3500 people.  

Pastor Ron Blomberg was the next leader of Lakewood.  His “shepherd’s heart” was always evident, as he used his gifts of mercy and service to compassionately bring the people of Lakewood nearer to the heart of God.  Following Pastor Ron’s time as Senior Pastor came a transitional period of ministry under a team of leaders led by Pastor Steve Richardson.  Pastor Steve brought amazing gifts of leadership and administration to the ministry of Lakewood.  In many ways, he introduced systems that helped to establish the ministry years that would follow under the leadership of Lakewood’s most recent Senior Pastor, John Dickau.
 
Pastor John served Lakewood for almost 10 years.  His previous ministry experience, and most especially his oversight in the BGC, prepared him to envision great things for the ministry of Lakewood.  His heart for people and his passion to serve God with his life (over 40 years full-time), have given him a holistic perspective on ministry that can be seen clearly through the ongoing ministries of Lakewood.
 
What an amazing line-up.  What an incredible legacy.  And now, we all are set to begin our part of Lakewood’s story in this generation!  It’s important to remember that we did not start this ministry.  It is an inheritance of others’ dreams and visions.  We are the most recent stewards of this legacy of ministry.  While giving a historical account to a crowd in Pisidian Antioch, Paul said in Acts 13:36 that when King David “had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep”.  Did you catch that?  He served God’s purpose in his own generation.  We have seen the servants of God serve the Lord at Lakewood in generations past.  Now, together, it is our time.
 
I want to point out three very important components that will be on my heart ongoing—and I pray they will be on yours, also.  I believe that in order to fully enjoy and utilize what has been given to us to make an impact for Christ in this  generation, we must:
 
1. Look into our ministry’s history and fully embrace our inheritance - all of it.
2. Prayerfully consider how to build onto the inheritance we have received.
3. Prepare to pass the inheritance onto the generation who will receive it next.
 
May we always be quick to look to the Lord’s leading in each of our lives as we begin a new chapter of ministry here at Lakewood.  Most importantly, let’s remember what Solomon said in Psalm 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain”.  I look forward to tremendous years of ministry impact alongside each of you as we serve the Lord together!