Joining Efforts

A small Assemblies of God church in Key Largo, Florida, has increased its missions outreach by joining forces with an independent Spanish-speaking congregation.

“It made sense to consolidate the churches, reduce overhead, and be more strategic in our efforts to reach families in this community and beyond in English and Spanish,” says Eric Fisher, 40, pastor of Lighthouse on the Rock, a Peninsular Florida District congregation which draws about 45 people for its Sunday service.

In January, Lighthouse en Español — with approximately 30 attendees for Saturday night services — officially became part of Lighthouse on the Rock after the building that the Spanish congregation rented closed. En Español is pastored by Juan Velizaroff, who planted the Spanish church four years ago in Homestead — a community on the mainland of south Florida located 31 miles from the remote Key Largo.

Velizaroff’s wife, Christine, and two daughters do not speak Spanish, so after praying about it, the family began attending Lighthouse Sunday services in 2015. The Velizaroffs and Fisher’s family developed a close relationship. Velizaroff eventually approached Fisher about bringing the Spanish church into the AG as a Parent Affiliate Church .

“Lighthouse on the Rock provides practical counsel, leadership, resources, and vision to Pastor Juan and Christine’s congregation,” says Russ Debord, Peninsular Florida District presbyter. “We are excited to see how their strategy is accelerating the Assemblies of God's mission for spiritual impact and visibility.” 

Velizaroff, 57, who is of Peruvian and Bulgarian descent, says the two congregations are both missions oriented, so it’s a perfect partnership.

“Our goal is to serve better those who are serving overseas,” says Velizaroff, whose church supports pastors in rural areas in Chulucanas, Peru. “As we honor those who are serving overseas, we will become an arm of strength for our local community, and our church will be blessed. Small numbers mean nothing when we are committed to a great God."

The two pastors recently hosted a Peruvian pastor for two weeks.

“One of the needs for the pastors of rural areas in Chulucanas is to have Bible college materials on a tablet,” Velizaroff says. “We provided 30 tablets and coordinated the downloading of seminary textbooks.”

Bilingual missionaries now have an opportunity to share at both services at the church. Moving forward, the dual congregations expect to send teams to Latin American and Caribbean locations.

Fisher and his wife, Janeen, received approval in 2012 to serve as Assemblies of God World Missions missionaries to the Dominican Republic before moving to Key Largo with their four children to pastor Lighthouse in 2014.

“Our missions experience taught me that every church can give something,” Fisher says. “It isn’t the big, wealthy churches alone that make missions possible. It is the many small faithful churches who give $10 or $15 a month that make the difference. We have continually added missionaries from our district and given to many important projects. We strive to be an Acts 2 church in every way.”

IMAGE - Lighthouse on the Rock Church

Eric Tiansay

Eric Tiansay has been a full-time journalist since 1993, writing articles for Christian media since 2000. He lives in central Florida, where he is an active member of an Assemblies of God church.