History of Ablaze ChurchAblaze Church is a mission start of Our Savior Lutheran Church located at 146 S. Sheridan Rd in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ablaze Church began when several individuals from this congregation who were involved in separate ministries were united under the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod's (LCMS) "Ablaze Initiative". The Ablaze Initiative was a challenge to start 2000 new churches, or mission starts, over the next 10 years.
Pastor Tim Dreier took the Ablaze initiative as a personal and congregational challenge for Our Savior to independently start 3 new churches in the next 10 years. The membership of Our Savior voted to support this endeavor, and with a small core group of committed volunteers, Ablaze Church was Live! Pastor Dreier had a vision of a "new" Lutheran church. One that encouraged a more relaxed atmosphere, one where the worship style encouraged young families, with young children to yearn to become part of God's family, gather to worship and praise God on a regular basis, and to make a difference in the lives of individuals, families, and our community. It's funny how God can know your path and begin building the pieces of a work before the idea is even planted in someone’s mind. God had been at work for sometime on this endeavor.
Zion's Fire was a Christian music ministry comprised of three members of Our Savior and another regular attendee. The had been playing music together for over a year with a heart for reaching young adults and teens with a relevant message of Christ's love. Their ambition had been to reach outside the church walls to those who were not plugged into "the family". They struggled with this mission for some time until one of the members had a mission altering encounter with the Lord at a Lutheran Youth gathering. He returned from this weekend and convinced the rest of the band to change courses. If we were not being successful getting out to the lost, lets provide a comfortable place for them to rest with us. Sunday Night Live was born. One hour of rocking praise each week, right there at Our Savior. Again, it's amazing how God works, eh?
Pastor Dreier and his wife had attended a few of the Sunday Night Live! services, and after a year of hosting this weekly praise service, he approached Zion's Fire with his vision for a mission start. Working together and with the aid of others a core team was developed and they began to lay plans for the mission start. Ablaze Live! kicked off on the Saturday before Easter of 2007 with a community Easter Egg Hunt at Liberty Elementary School in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Preparations had been made for 250 people to attend this inaugural event. We were amazed with God brought over 1000 individuals to meet us for the first time that day. At our first worship service that evening we had over 75 people join us.
The Easter Egg Hunt has become an annual event. We have also hosted a small community concert and carnival that may also evolve into an annual event. As our congregation grows we are persuing a permanent place of worship to be able to better serve our community and offer more opportunities to introduce, develop, and enhance relationships with Jesus Christ and the ones he loves so much.
So come and join us, no matter who you are, or who you have been. Visit us on a Saturday evening no matter if you feel comfortable in a suit and tie, or jeans and a t-shirt. Come on out if you like to lift your arms and clap your hands. We want you here if you are the type who just likes to sit back and worship quietly. You are welcome here not matter if you arrive on foot, by limo, or in a rusted out beater. God wants you just as you are, and that is how you will be welcomed at Ablaze Church. |
