The Vision of Renovate Life Church

The Story of Renovate… A Little over a year ago I was sat at my dressing table when I heard the call of God to GO…go where I asked? Then all I could see were the words “Lytham St. Annes”…over and over again (I’d been there once before to a conference, but I didn’t know a soul out there!) This was something I could not ignore as it was so strong and by now I knew better than to ignore anything God had on the agenda for my life! So within a couple of weeks I was uprooted from Wigan and landed slap bang in the middle of…you’ve guessed it…Lytham St. Annes. I had no idea why God had called me out here…but, within a very short space of time…let’s say I got the picture. It was obvious to me that the 18 – 35’s were missing from church in their hundreds…(I had been an Associate Minister at Today’s Community Church in Wigan and we had multiplies of 18 – 35 year olds, the atmosphere there was vibrant, energetic and life giving) Within a couple of months  I used what was in my hand…my apartment…it became the place for Food, Fun and Friendship every Tuesday for 18 -35’s…On the 1st June 2008 we launched Renovate Rock Church and moved into the Joya Nightclub St. Annes…with the newly formed Renovate Rock Band  and the Renovate dancers “IGNITE” . Since then we have seen young people coming along and connecting to God…discovering their gifts and abilities and deploying them to benefit the community…we have budding song writers…poets…singers…media buffs… publics speakers…etc…WOW! What amazing talent I have discovered out here on the Fylde Coast! We have been averaging around 40 young people…and let me say the atmosphere is electric and totally lights their fire, they are awesome young people. Well no sooner did I sit back and draw breath when God spoke to me through Isaiah 54 especially verses 2 – 3…”Enlarge…Stretch…Lengthen…Strengthen…for you will spread out to the right and to the left;” Now what could that mean?…well let me tell you, if you really want to know what God is saying, He will make it LOUD and CLEAR! I knew the next step was to spread out to the right and launch Renovate Life Church to embrace those who like church done in a different style again. We launched Renovate Life Church on the 11th January 2009 with just 11 people…with our Official Opening by the Mayor of St. Annes Cllr Mrs Barbara McKenzie on the 1st March 2009 @ the Dalmeny Hotel St. Annes… and the rest as they say will be history! I’m so excited at the prospect of what God has in store for the people out here on the Fylde Coast and beyond, of which I believe we will play a significant part of! My heart is to see Men, Women, Boys and Girls discover, develop and deploy the seeds of greatness which are within them…become a gift to our world…and live out their God given destiny! If you want to belong to a community of Faith, Hope and Love…where ‘No Perfect People are allowed’…where the uniqueness of each individual is celebrated regardless of gender, race, colour or creed…then maybe you’ve just found home.

Welcome home!

Ann Strickland Senior Leader

Renovate Life Church