Radiant life full#
In 2009, the church voted to affiliate with the Assemblies of God with full sovereign status.ĭuring Radiant Life's short history the church has conducted outreaches continually. The beliefs were identical to the Assemblies of God doctrine, of which John was an ordained minister. Radiant Life was planted as an independent church. Following that year, Radiant Life signed a full lease, enabling the church to remain set up each week. For the next year, the set up/break down crew unloaded, set up, broke down and hauled the church away from the facility. In 2008, Radiant Life contracted with "The Grand Event Center," a banquet facility to hold worship services in that facility instead of the Ramada. Contracts were signed, signs were ordered, and plans were made to have two weeks of a 'soft opening' preparing for a launch in late March 2007. After a great deal of searching, the Ramada Inn in Elkhart was chosen to be the launching location. A location was not yet determined, but the name was chosen.
The first 'barn" meeting was attended by 12 individuals. It would convey the principle of "beginning with the end in mind", making our calling and vision clear: bringing men and women, boys and girls into the "radiant" life God talks about in His Word. The first few meetings were in a barn in Middlebury, and the name "Radiant Life" was chosen as the name of the new church plant. Pathway provided funds and personnel to plant the church and in the late winter months, John began meeting with those individuals. All of John's spiritual advisors affirmed that call to plant a church in Elkhart, and the process to plant the church began. They met, and the pastor affirmed the call. The feeling would not leave him, so John called his pastor and asked to discuss it with him. Who knew God could call someone in a Wal-Mart? Immediately, John sensed the Lord's strong leading to plant a church, right at that moment, in Wal-Mart. People speaking English, Russian and Spanish. It was like a mosaic of nationalities: Americans, Latinos, Europeans, Africans men in blue jeans and ladies in burkas. Susan asked, "Are you coming with me?" John replied, "No, I am going to stand here for a few minutes."Īs he stood in the greeter area, he turned and watched as customers walked into the Wal-Mart. Immediately, the Lord captured John's heart, stopping him in the front of the store. After that morning's service, the last thing on anyone's mind was launching a church on the north side of Elkhart, Indiana.Īs they arrived at the Wal-mart on County Road 6 in Elkhart, John and Susan walked through the doors and said the obligatory 'hello' to the door greeter. In October 2006, John and Susan Utley were attending Pathway Assembly of God in Middlebury, IN and decided to go by Wal-Mart after church to buy food for Sunday dinner.
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