Well. Sort of 🙂
We are hosting our first project this week, the barista training program for at-risk youth, then we will officially open sometime next month before the university students return on the first of October.
We have also launched our social media channels, so please follow us if you are interested in watching this place grow, mature, and navigate the coming seasons.
In December of 2023, we assumed leadership of the space and the 5-year lease. Since that time, we’ve seen God provide the materials, and people to rally around this new kingdom, missional space.
When I say kingdom, I mean the loving reign of Jesus’ reality, “as it is in heaven.” Sometimes the word kingdom solicits ideas of the kingdoms of this world, ruled by iron fists and domination systems. Jesus said his kingdom was not of this world.. and he spent his time trying to unpack and help his followers grasp the values and virtues of what he called his Father’s kingdom… Only after Jesus divested his earthly life, in sacrificial loving surrender, did his followers then truly begin to grasp just how different Jesus’ world is from this one.
What kind of a king, what kind of a kingdom could this be where the Ultimate becomes intentionally weak by taking on our nature and laying down his life? Surely this is an upside-down way of being in the world we know as dog-eat-dog and each one out for themselves!
We follow a king who pours his power out upon the believing heart, awakening, and even resurrecting us from the darkness of blind death. We follow a Shepherd who lays down his life for the good of the wandering and wayward sheep. We serve a God that is found most truly in the perfect Life of the Son.
So, when we launch Lighthouse, a missional creative platform in smack in the center of our city in Cluj-Napoca, Romania’s second largest and youngest city… we are embarking on embodying this historical kingdom of love embodied in people of Jesus known as his church.. we are to be community focused on divesting our power and resources, creating opportunity for the culture to experience the welcoming invitation of the Savior of the world to discover who they REALLY are, as they discover who God in Jesus REALLY is.
Jesus kingdom, after all, will know no end – so let’s keep growing into it now!
We are kingdom ambassadors, as we follow Jesus’ example and experience His love toward us.
This week, our first project, investing in the lives of 10 young adults, ages 15-21yrs, from Ukraine and Romania. God provided Justin and his team from Filtered Hope to provide 6 full days of training in the art of Coffee and self-discovery. Many of the youth come from difficult situations, and our team is coming alongside them in an effort to empower them with practical skills for their future, and spiritual truths that we hope will germinate as seeds in their souls.
Thank you everyone that has given to the project! We are now sort of open, and testing out the space. We have many practical decisions to make, from our schedule, which partners will use the space on which days and nights. God is providing us with friends and like-minded believers who are also excited to have this ‘3rd space’ – a neutral, welcoming place to connect with neighbors, co-workers, and cultivate deeper relationships.
We are looking forward to how this place will impact culture, and change lives in Jesus name…. and for his growing Kingdom.