Grace Life is the family ministry at Lighthouse, specifically for married couples, single parents, older widows/widowers, and retirees.  Since the beginning of Lighthouse Bible Church, we have known that there needed to be a great investment made in our families as it would provide much of the stability that the church needed to grow. As you can imagine, this group covers a wide range of ages and life stages.  Throughout the years, Grace Life has undergone several structural changes as the leaders sought to best minister to this range of needs. Building upon the prior faithful labor of our married members, in 2021, the church called a new pastoral staff member to be dedicated to its shepherding, development, and growth. Though it has taken different forms the focus has always been on equipping believers with God's Word, encouraging one another, and providing loving accountability for faithful living, all for the purpose of building God-honoring families. 

1. Thursday Mid-Week Bible Study & Fellowship (6:30 PM)
Meets typically every 1st and 3rd week of the month - OPEN TO EVERYONE

We gather for Bible Study and Fellowship Events on a biweekly basis in the main sanctuary to worship the Lord in corporate singing, to study God's Word, to join in group discussion, and to fellowship with one another. From October to May, this is in conjunction with our Lighthouse Kids Club (K-5) ministry that meets on the same evening. Nursery Care is a separate volunteer rotation by parents with younger children (to take part in the nursery requires parents to take turns in the rotation - contact Carol Lim for more information).

2. Accountability Small Groups (various times and locations)
Meets typically every 2nd and 4th week of the month - FORMAL MEMBERS ONLY

To facilitate a more intimate accountability and fellowship, we have various small groups of 3-6 people for men or women, that meet at various times and places. Groups gather under a mutual covenant to discuss a common assignment (alternating seasonally between study of a book in the Bible or a Christian book addressing a topical study for our spiritual growth). Groups invest time getting to know one another, carrying burdens, celebrating birthdays, sharing blessings, having fun, interceding for one another in prayer, and challenging one another to live humbly before God and confidently in the joys of the Gospel. In order to facilitate a balance of stable friendship and inviting new relationships, we "reshuffle" our small groups every 3 years (transfer requests if need arises). If you are not yet a member, we ask you to prioritize church membership 1st. But when you become a formal member, you may request placement into a small group via an online form HERE.

More recently, we have grown together in the following studies: Inductive Study of Philippians (Fall 2022), Group Choice from Pre-Approved List (Spring 2023), Book Discussion: Pursuing Peace: A Christian Guide to Handling Our Conflicts by Robert Jones (Fall 2023), Group Choice from Pre-Approved List (Spring 2024), Book Discussion:  Feelings and Faith: Cultivating Godly Emotions in the Christian Life by Brian Borgman (Fall 2024), Study of Ecclesiastes using Don't Waste Your Breath (Fall 2025).

3. Annual Weekender Conference
One weekend every year, Friday-Sunday, typically in early-mid November - OPEN TO ALL

Every year, we host a conference at our church for our families inviting a guest speaker, to address topics of marriage, counseling, or discipleship that will equip and edify our church members. Registration typically begins in September. Every few years, we also make effort to schedule an offsite "Family Retreat" at a conference center or hotel location instead.

More recently, we've had or have scheduled the following speakers: Dr. Ernie Baker (2021 "Sexual Intimacy"), Dr. Harry Walls (2022 "Maximizing Your Marriage"), Dr. Robert Jones (2023 "Resolving Conflict Biblically"), Dr. Brian Borgman (2024 "Cultivating Godly Emotions"), Brag Bigney (2025, "Gospel Treason"), as well as others over the years.

4. Marriage Mentors Training I & II
Every 2nd Tuesday of month at 6:30pm from Oct-May as part of a 2 year training program and commitment - FORMAL MEMBERS WITH APPROVED WRITTEN APPLICATION

To both encourage married couples in their own marital health and to primarily equip them to potentially serve alongside our leaders and fellow members (whether formally or informally), we start a new training cohort every 2 years, that includes monthly lectures, group discussion, reading assignments, and training exercises  It is designed to help members wanting to learn how to better biblically counsel and more effectively minister to our engaged couples, newlyweds, struggling couples, and parents in our church.

Marriage Mentors I: Essentials of Biblical Marriage
Marriage Mentors II: Shepherding Common Challenges

5. Newlywed Fellowship
About 2-3+ times a year for couples who have been married less than 3 years

To provide encouragement, to facilitate friendships, and to promote mutual care in this beginning season of marital life, we provide topical teaching, group sharing/discussion, Q&A times, and fellowship events to our newer married couples, with contributions from our family pastor, church elders, marriage mentors, and mature couples of the church.

6. Legacy Senior Fellowship
About 2-3+ times a year for older couples, retirees, widows/widowers, and empty nesters

As the the number of our members in this lifestage grows, this group was established in 2024. To provide encouragement, to facilitate friendships, and to promote mutual care in this new season of living for the Lord, we prepare topical teaching as it relates to common challenges, group sharing/discussion, Q&A times, and fellowship events. At least annually, we schedule a joint brunch or similar event, with our Newlywed Fellowship for mutual encouragement. To promote a Titus 2 priority given by the Lord, we exhort our older members to invest in the younger members, while giving attention to needs of seniors.

7. Parenting Class & Seasonal Seminars
Both on a regular basis and as need arises

Learn biblical principles and get encouragement for raising children in the Lord during our 13-week Parenting Course. Class includes teaching time, a video series, group discussion, and practical assignments. In addition, we seek to address issues of both life concerns and general discipleship (marriage, counseling, parenting, cultural challenges, end of life issues, dementia, apologetics, church life, evangelism, etc) thru periodic seminars.

8. Service Teams
Specific ways to serve our Grace Life members throughout the year as needed 

 For more information, please contact Pastor James (james@lighthousebc.com)  

Hi, my name is James. I’m humbled to have been given the privilege and joy to serve as an associate pastor here at Lighthouse San Diego since August 2021. As a lifelong So Cal resident, the vast majority in the OC, I started attending church around 2nd grade when my father came to saving faith. Back then, I had zero desire for God, as I was running hard away from Him, rather than to Him. But in the summer before 8th grade, through the faithful youth ministry of Mike & Laurie Laramie, I too was convicted of my sinful rebellion, broken by mercy, overwhelmed by grace, and providentially came to know and trust Christ as my Lord and Savior. Miraculously, I then genuinely loved the Creator, Bible, and Church I formerly had so despised. With a new heart and new eyes, God was no longer far away, but lovingly near. I learned His forgiveness wasn’t earned, nor lost, but mercifully paid for, humbly received, and divinely preserved, not because of James, but because of Jesus. I genuinely began to follow Him. And though I had various spiritual struggles and many failures, my life was never again the same. I grew quietly, but gradually.

Then significantly, during my undergrad years, I started to learn how to share my faith, mentor younger believers, study His Word in depth, and rely on Christ more to lead others while serving in my local church and with the Navigators. Most formative was the personal impact of godly people in my life, along with the profound influence of a new love of books as I hungrily sought to equip myself. One summer, I read almost 30 Christian books! I knew so little! Naturally more comfortable behind the scenes, I increasingly began to see God use me in ways I never thought possible for someone as painfully shy as myself. Even as brethren encouraged and affirmed me to consider pastoral ministry, I was very resistant. For a year, I struggled with my obvious unworthiness paired with an unexpected, yet timid desire for the work. Then in the 2nd half of my undergrad years, after much prayer and counsel, I trusted the Lord was indeed calling me and that He would do it. I began to serve as a youth pastor during my last 2 years at UCLA before graduating in 1996 (B.A. History). After graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary in 2000 (M.Div) and getting trained in Biblical Counseling at IBCD under Dr. George Scipione in the late 90s, I served as a church planting intern, associate pastor, and upon the advice of a late mentor Dr. Wally Norling, worked 2 valuable years in the secular marketplace before entering full-time ministry. I especially love to witness what God is doing overseas, serving on trips to Japan, China, Mexico, Korea, India, Czech Republic, and the Hopi Nation (AZ). I’m grateful for the gospel partnerships that our church enjoys with believers everywhere as we corporately worship and labor to the glory of God and the joy of all nations. Just prior to coming to San Diego, starting with a small group of believers in a living room, I was gifted the opportunity to plant a new local church (now known as Lighthouse Bible Church Orange County) serving as the founding senior pastor for more than 18 years. Sensing a support role would be the best stewardship for my next season of ministry, after a difficult decision to entrust the flock I had the privilege to shepherd from its birth to the Lord and others, I’m grateful to now belong to this faithful church family that I love just as much!

Outside knowing the Lord and seeing ordinary children of God like myself proclaim the gospel, my greatest privilege is being husband to my beautiful wife Sandy since 2005, and father to my 3 cherished children, Tobias, Piper, and Kristyn. I enjoy family time, reading books, playing sports, golf, relaxing outdoors, home improvement, and cheering on my childhood favorite teams: Angels, Ducks, Clippers, and UCLA Bruins!