NEWS FEATURE: The Lighthouse Church, Spalding, changes leader as Pastor Chas hands over to Pastor David
A family tradition is continuing at The Lighthouse Church, Spalding, after a new leader was appointed over the weekend.
Married dad-of-two Pastor David Sandhu (36) has all the experience, inspiration and passion needed for the role, having watched closely as his own father led the church for more than 23 years.
Pastor Chas Sandhu and wife Marion, who together have two children and three grandchildren, are taking up new roles as Community Pastors, overseeing the growing number of social projects which church has pioneered over the years.
These include Agapecare Foodbank, Spalding Street Pastors, Cherish senior citizens' group and an Emergency Access Shelter programme for the homeless, as well as its association with independent charity The Lighthouse Project and its services for vulnerable young people.
Pastor Chas said: “I’ve enjoyed everything that’s been done over the last 23 years, especially all the community work.
“There’s no sadness about stepping down from the senior leadership role and I’m happy to have handed over to David because I feel the church needs to move forward with a younger pastor.
“I’ll still be involved, along with Marion, with the church as part of its leadership team and we’ll both be taking on the role of Community Pastors, enabling us to oversee our Community Works projects.
“But I’m 65 now so I feel the time is right to change roles and for David to take over as senior Pastor.”
The handover was celebrated by the church with a “Transition Weekend” on Saturday and Sunday.
Pastor Chas and Mrs Sandhu were interviewed about their years at the church and presented with gifts before their son was formally appointed as its new leader, supported by his wife Louise.
“I grew up in a Christian home so I knew about God and I became a Christian when I was ten,” Pastor David said.
“As I grew older, I wanted to serve the church as much as I could and it just became part of my life.
“I was involved in the kids and youth work which gave me the opportunity to grow and develop.
“Now as senior Pastor of The Lighthouse Church, I want to bring fresh vision and direction to the church and its people.
“I want to build on the incredible community work that Pastor Chas and Marion have done in Spalding and South Holland, whilst also furthering and strengthening it with fresh perspective and ideas.”
The change of leadership has coincided with The Lighthouse Church's 50th anniversary.
Founded under the leadership of Pastors Bob Shelton and Melvyn Banks in 1969, the church was based at The Grange, off Pinchbeck Road, Spalding.
Pastor Chas and Marion joined the church in the 1980s when it was led by Pastor Stephen Page, one of the guest speakers at the Transition Weekend.
Then after a five-year spell in London, Pastor Chas returned to The Lighthouse Church as its new leader on January 1996.
Pastor Chas said: “When we here in the 1980s, Marion and I were part of the church’s leadership team, with responsibility for children’s work.
“When we came back in 1996, the church grew steadily with people who had a heart for The Lighthouse Church’s vision of wanting to serve God and our community.
“Our vision is to be a church without walls, not confined to a building, and one that touches the community by caring for it."
Under Pastor Chas's leadership, the church was able to move to the former Drill Hall, once used by The Royal Lincolnshire Regiment, in 2008 and it was officially opened by current South Holland District Council chairman Coun Francis Biggadike in February 2009.
"During Transition Weekend, we explained to the church that whilst we're not leaving, we are stepping down from our leadership roles and becoming Community Pastors," Pastor Chas said.
"At the same time, myself and Marion will be cheering David on as senior pastor, encouraging him and the church to go even further forward than it did under our leadership.
"I want the church to go forward and do more for our community by helping those who are need, but in order to do that, fresh vision now needs to come in."
The vicar of Spalding, the Rev John Bennett, said: "Chas and Marion have been inspirational leaders for the church here and whilst St Mary and St Nicolas Church supports Agapecare Foodbank and Spalding Street Pastors both practically and financially, I am not sure either of these projects that do so much to help people around Spalding would have come into being without them.
"I Chas, Marion and everyone at The Lighthouse Church, Spalding, well and pray that God will continue to bless them under the leadership of Pastor David and Louise Sandhu."
The Rev David Curran, of Broad Street Methodist Church, Spalding, said: "I am full of admiration for the amazing way in which Chas and Marion have used the skills God has given them in the development of The Lighthouse Church from a very small fellowship into the substantial church it is today.
"With its lively worship, outreach projects and ecumenical activities, I truly believe that it was God who called them back to Spalding in 1996 and we Methodists wish them well in their 'retirement'.
"However, 'retirement' for them will mean continuing to work within some of the project, such as Spalding Street Pastors and Agapecare Foodbank."
The Rev Paul Whiteley, of St Paul's Church, Fulney, Spalding, said: "I know that Pastor Chas and Marion have served the community for many years with a real passion and enthusiasm for the gospel and a willingness to serve in very practical ways.
"It has been good to share with Chas in ministry to the town of Spalding and my prayers are with him and Marion as they move into the next chapter of their lives here.
"I look forward to sharing with Pastor David and Marion as they takes up their new roles as Community Pastors in Spalding."
The Rev Steve Weatherly-Barton, clergy chairman of Churches Together in Spalding and District, said: "Pastor Chas is a great man of faith who has worked enormously hard in bridging the link between the churches and needs of the local community.
"He played a very big role in the setting up of Agapecare Foodbank, which continues to be very much in demand, and he was also hugely involved in the setting up of Spalding Street Pastors which has gone on to be appreciated, both by the community and the police.
"Chas has a wider vision that just building a local church, with both he and his wife Marion having always shared a very deep passion for the local community.
"They are now standing down from their senior leadership roles in the church but, knowing Chas and Marion, they will continue to be heavily involved in those things that are close to their hearts."