As we pray into our new name, we see God at work affirming and expanding our story. Here are some thoughts behind our new name:
God is using our church to make a regional impact. This name roots us to the Great Lakes Region and points toward the expanding influence of our mission to Love God, Love Each Other, and Get the Message Out.
FIVE
Throughout the Bible, we see the number five often referencing or symbolizing the grace of God.* This resonates with us. Five Lakes is not just a church on Sunday. We are ambassadors to a lost world, separated from God and in need of a savior. We cannot fathom the depths of God’s grace, but we rely on it completely.
LAKES
Water is a theme throughout the Bible. It frequently symbolizes new life, cleansing, and the spirit of God. Five Lakes Church is a place where you can experience a life-giving relationship with Jesus. It’s a place where you can be empowered by the Spirit of God to do more, be better, and make a difference in the world.
*When God was giving unholy humanity a method of approaching a holy God, He gave them five sacrifices. They are the Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1; 8:18-21; 16:24), Sin Offering (Leviticus 4; 16:3-22), Trespass Offering (Leviticus 5:14-19; 6:1-7; 7:1-6), Grain Offering (Leviticus 2) and Peace Offering (Leviticus 3; 7:1-34). This was God offering grace to His children so they could come to Him. Another example is the way the Ten Commandments are broken into two sets of five commandments. The first five commandments are related to our treatment and relationship with God, and the last five concern our relationship with other humans. God’s grace is again revealed as He gives us guidelines to follow in building successful relationships with God and each other. Lastly, though not exhaustively, there were five ingredients in the holy anointing oil (Exodus 30:23-25). These ingredients (pure myrrh, sweet cinnamon, sweet calamus, cassia, and hin) were given directly by God and used to consecrate the furniture of the tabernacle. It was a revelation of absolute grace.