A Three-Fold Purpose on Jefferson Avenue
Lakeside Community Church sits on Jefferson Avenue in St. Clair Shores, between Masonic and Shook Road just south of 14 Mile, where a congregation has gathered around a simple, three-part calling: Live for God, Love Others, Reach the World. The motto is more than a slogan. It shapes everything from the music on Sunday morning to the way small groups are organized.
Two passages from Matthew anchor the church's identity. From Matthew 22:37-39, Lakeside draws the call to love God with heart, soul, and mind and to love neighbors as oneself. From Matthew 28:19, the church draws the charge to go and make disciples of all nations. Worship exists because the congregation wants to Live for God. Small groups exist to Love Others. Impact Teams exist to Reach the World.
Sunday Mornings at 9:30 and 11:00
Two Sunday gatherings are held at 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM, and both follow the same format. The atmosphere is casual and come-as-you-are, and free coffee and snacks are available. People wear what they would wear anywhere else on a Sunday morning, and newcomers are not put on the spot or volunteered for extra tasks.
The music is contemporary and modern. Dr. Jerry Wyrick, who leads the worship ministry and holds a Ph.D. in Music Composition from Michigan State University, oversees a team of singers, band members, sound techs, and media techs. The teaching is practical and relevant, helping people apply the Bible to everyday life.
A Whole Wing for Children
Children from birth through 5th grade have their own dedicated wing next to the auditorium, easy to find from the main entrance. All volunteers are trained and screened, and the secure check-in system walks parents through drop-off and pick-up.
At the 9:30 service, nursery and preschool classes are available. At the 11:00 service, nursery, preschool, and children's classes all run. Infants through 24 months are nurtured in a well-equipped nursery. Toddlers and preschoolers get their first impressions of God through the people of the Bible. Kindergarten through 5th graders experience a worship service of their own with songs, crafts, skits, and games, then break into grade-specific small groups to apply what they have learned.
Kaitlyn Ashbaugh leads the children's ministry. A long-time Lakeside attendee and special education teacher in the Roseville School District, she began volunteering in the children's wing as a middle school student. Her vision is to partner with parents in helping children discover God's love, develop godly character, and make godly choices.
Student Ministry for Grades 6-12
Middle school and high school students meet for Student Ministry on Sundays at 11:00 AM. The goal of the ministry is to disciple students and share the love and grace of God through relationships and community. Students are reached, taught, and sent out to make disciples of their own through weekly Bible studies, outreach events, worship, discipleship groups, camps, and retreats throughout the year.
The team behind Student Ministry is made up of staff, volunteers, and parents committed to discipling students together, with consent and medical release forms on file for trips and events.
Small Groups and Serving Teams
Lakeside believes that meaningful Christian community happens in smaller settings. Small Groups are described as the primary means of experiencing a closer sense of belonging. In them, members learn from each other, study the Bible, support and pray for one another, and have fun together. A Small Group booth on Sunday mornings helps newcomers find a group that fits.
Once newcomers are settled, Lakeside offers a range of places to serve. The Worship team welcomes vocalists, instrumentalists, sound techs, video operators, lighting techs, graphic designers, and drama volunteers. The First Impressions team meets people at the door, helps them find their way around, and assists with the offering. The Children's Ministry team spans nursery workers, teachers, and registration helpers. For those whose calling does not fit a listed team, the church helps create an Impact Team designed around how the person has been gifted.
A Licensed Weekday Preschool
Lakeside runs a fully licensed weekday preschool through the state of Michigan, serving children ages 2 years 9 months through 5 years who are fully potty trained. A three-year-old program meets Tuesday and Thursday from 8:45 AM to 11:45 AM. A four-year-old program meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:45 AM to 11:45 AM. An Accelerated 4-year-old program adds afternoon hours from 11:45 AM to 1:45 PM. Stay and Play extends the day until 1:45 PM for children already attending.
All staff meet Michigan teaching standards. Stacy Marsiglio, the Preschool Director, has been state certified for more than 15 years and has worked with the Macomb Intermediate School District with special needs children for nearly a decade. The preschool admits students of any race, color, nationality, and ethnic origin to all programs and activities, and families can set up a tour to meet the staff.
A Long-Standing Pastoral Team
Dr. Ken Render has been the lead pastor of Lakeside for more than 30 years. A Georgetown College graduate who played football on scholarship, he went on to earn a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He and his wife Laura live in downtown Mount Clemens, have three grown children and four grandchildren, and he is known for a teaching style that applies Scripture to everyday life.
Dr. Jerry Wyrick leads the worship ministry and serves as President of the Worship Arts Conservatory. He and his wife Julie, who also serves in worship, have two adult children, Christina and Daniel.
Across the week, Lakeside's reach extends well beyond its auditorium. From weekday mornings in the preschool to retreats with students, from small groups meeting in homes to serving teams making Sunday mornings run, every part of the church points back to the same three-fold calling that has shaped the congregation for decades: Live for God, Love Others, Reach the World.