LifeSpring Church to Host Sneak Peek Aug. 12

A year's worth of prayers, planning and plugging into the community will come to fruition Sunday, Aug. 12, when LifeSpring Church hosts its first service at 10 a.m. at 13306 Boyette Rd, Riverview.

In preparation for what he's calling a "sneak peek" of the new church, the Rev. Nate DeWard has mailed out 8,000 postcards inviting Riverview, and FishHawk residents to drop in and see what LifeSpring Church is all about.

DeWard is co-pastor of the new church with his wife, Andrea. The couple, along with their children, 8-year-old Noelle and 7-year-old Micah, moved to the area a year ago from Michigan to start the new church.

"We had this sense within us that we could be used best by helping people to find a church home," said Nate DeWard. "Our vision, our passion is to help people discover and grow in a life with God."

The couple met as freshmen at Calvin College in Michigan and went on to attend a seminary together. They've been married since 1999.

They were serving as pastors of a church in Michigan when DeWard said they felt called to start a new church in the Riverview-FishHawk area.

Noting that this is a fast-growing area with a transient population, DeWard hopes to tap into the large number of newcomers to the area who currently belong to no church.

"I find most often that the people I come in contact with are religious but aren't currently involved in a local congregation," said DeWard. "About 75 percent of the people I've met have no church. I believe when people move to the area, they're looking for a sense of community, and a church can offer that in a really unique way."

Deward has spent the past year knocking on doors, speaking with residents, attending chamber of commerce and community events and hosting block parties to spread the word about LifeSpring Church. A youth group meets once a week at the DeWard's FishHawk Ranch home as well.

A casual conversation at one chamber event prompted DeWard to take a unique approach to attracting people who aren't comfortable attending a traditional church. He started the Church at the Bar, which takes place the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the backroom at O'Brien's Irish Pub, 701 W. Lumsden Rd., Brandon.

"It's a way to bring a message of love and grace and connect with people in an environment they're comfortable in, people who normally would not attend church," said DeWard.

Although affiliated with the Reformed Church of America, DeWard describes LifeSpring Church as "nondenominational in terms of how we relate to the community.

"It's a church for people from all walks of life. We don't have barriers and we don't want labels to become an obstacle to attending church," said DeWard. "We believe Jesus commanded us to go find followers and teach them to obey His teachings, including His great commission -- to love God above all else and to love your neighbor."

DeWard said the location of the Valrico Lake Advantage Academy was ideal for his purposes.

"We're a church for the greater FishHawk-Riverview community," he said. "So, when we were considering a site, we wanted it to be accessible to the greater area."

LifeSpring has a one-year lease with the academy. Maybe five years down the road, the church will consider acquiring its own space, said DeWard.

"But, at this point, the goal is to be sustainable by having 200 people in worship within two years."

Sunday's service kicks off a membership drive that will culminate in a premiere launch service Oct. 7.

"Anyone interested in checking us out is welcome to drop by any Sunday at 10 a.m.," said DeWard.

For more information, visit the church's website or Facebook page.