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they were planning. On the outside, it would appear they couldn’t have come to Detroit at a worse time. Less than a year after the national economy had crashed in October of 2008, they were trying to establish themselves in the city that had become a symbol of the nation’s flailing economy—home to the struggling auto- motive industry. “For me, I looked at it as the perfect
opportunity for us to come up here and be a fresh breath of air,” Blanchard says. “We’re trying to be very community focused. We want the community to know that we’re here for them. We want to help.” And God has blessed them. Almost 300 people showed up for their first wor- ship service on Easter of 2010—a turnout that surprised Blanchard. Out of their launch service, about 100 people attended the next service and the church has grown
North American Mission Board church planter Scott Blanchard (second photo from left) overcame deafness and a devastated economy to launch Lakepointe Community Church near Detroit, Mich. The church excels in reaching special needs students and connects with adults who have never found a church where they felt they belonged.
at a steady rate ever since. To better connect with unchurched in the community, Lakepointe has focused on hosting big, evangelistic events—and promoting them around town. The church has hosted 9/11 survivor Sujo John, professional athletes, Vietnam veteran and evangelist Tim Lee and Easter egg drops—among other outreach events. “Our church responds well to these
kinds of events,” Blanchard says. “People get excited, and they want to invite their friends.” But Lakepointe doesn’t leave it there.
The events become catalysts to begin relationships with people who don’t know Jesus. After the events, the church culti- vates those new relationships. Through this, the church has grown steadily in the process. Throughout 2012 the church has consistently seen 35 percent growth in attendance from the previous year. Blanchard’s deafness has proven to be a connection tool, too. Lakepointe happens to be one of the best school districts in the state for helping kids with special needs. Families move to the area to take advan- tage of the special education opportunities in the district. Many of those families find a sense of encouragement that a local pas-
tor of a hearing church is deaf. “I now see that God put me here for a
reason,” Blanchard says. At times Blanchard faces discourage- ment because of his deafness. He won- ders whether someone else, without the deafness and speech impediment, would be more effective in planting Lakepointe. But, he says, God always takes him back to His Word for encouragement during those times. “I think God uses me to inspire people
to serve Him,” Blanchard says. “If God can use me, He can use anyone.” Blanchard is grateful for partners like his sending church, Blue Water Baptist Association and the State Convention of Baptists in Michigan that were crucial to his church’s successful launch. Lakepointe is now helping other local church plants. On top of their Cooperative Program giving, the church plant has given an ad- ditional $13,000 to local church planting and other causes in the past two years. Follow Scott Blanchard on Twitter
at @TheDefShepherd. Check out the church’s website at
lakepointe.tv. OM
Tobin Perry is the online editor for On Mission.
ON MISSION • Winter 2013 D
PHOTOS COURTESY LAKEPOINTE COMMUNITY CHURCH
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