- November 28, 2024
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HORIZON WEST Brandt and Staci Leich moved to Florida for one purpose: to start a church.
At the end of their five years at Park Crest Baptist Church in Missouri, they felt the call to plant a church in a growing area that didn’t have a church on every corner. Because Staci’s brother had planted a church in neighboring Osceola County, the Leichs came down to Central Florida to look for the right area.
Horizon West was the perfect fit, and Life Church Horizon West was born.
The church’s name fits the Leichs’ outlook on what a church community should look like.
“We see ministry as life sharing life — doing life with other,” Brandt Leich said. “Coming alongside people. No matter what stage of life they’re in. No matter what they’re going through. We want to do life with them and ultimately point them to Jesus.”
The church has Baptist roots and is affiliated with Converge Southeast, a church-planting organization.
The Leichs have been in Christian ministry for nearly 20 years. Their passion to start a church blossomed from their time in college ministry in Missouri, where they were surprised by how many great things happened and the genuine change they saw in the students.
“It really gave us a longing for more than just what we were doing day in and day out,” Staci Leich said. “We wanted to do life with people. We realized in that ministry that we can do this every day.”
Much of the team behind Life Church are some of the young adults the Leichs worked with in college ministry — and they also moved to help out.
Stephen and Hannah Fuller both felt compelled to help after hearing about the church opening, so the couple moved to Florida with the Leichs.
“We believe everything that they say when it comes to what could possibly happen in this area and how many people we could reach,” Stephen Fuller said.
Because the Fullers are not on staff with the church, the most difficult part of the move was finding jobs, which they secured nearby. They currently serve in youth ministry, which already has started hosting some events.
Ultimately, the members of Life Church hope to connect a variety of people — from those who are eager to serve the church to people who are considering Jesus.
“Our vision statement for our church here is we want it to be a safe place where people can find and follow Jesus,” Brandt Leich said. “What we mean by our vision statement is we don’t care where what a person’s background is, how messy their life is. It doesn’t matter. We don’t want people to feel like they have to clean up in order to come to church; that they have to put on airs to be accepted.”
The church is currently in what they call the “preview” stage. On Sept. 11, the church held its first preview service at the West Orange Country Club.
But for Life Church, it’s really been about getting into the Horizon West community and connecting with people. The Leichs have also been hosting Bible studies and other gatherings at their home — often inviting families to their home for dinner. Members of the church have spent time at the pool, as well as at various events in Summerport Village, hoping to make an impact on the community.
Through the end of the year, Life Church will continue to hold preview services from 10 to 11 a.m. on the second Sunday of each month at Bay Lake Elementary School.
At each of these services, nursery and elementary programs also will be available. In February, the church will host its grand opening and begin weekly services.
Contact Jennifer Nesslar at [email protected].
