Many churches and businesses believe in promoting from within, and that was the case at the Opened Door Christian Fellowship Church (The Door) in Laurie this spring.
Pastor Thom Jones was promoted to pastor in May 2018, after the late Pastor Jerry Piker passed away. Pastor Thom was born at the Lake, and he grew up attending church at The Door. “Pastor Jerry led me to the Lord,” Pastor Thom said with a big smile. Pastor Thom smiles often. “He taught me a lot, mostly; to believe the best in people, never give up on them, and above all things; to be a servant to all.”
Pastor Thom served as The Door’s Associate Pastor for two years. Prior to that, he and his wife Stacy, served as youth pastors, for nine years. “Previously, we did whatever was needed,” Pastor Thom said. The Joneses have been married for 18 years and they have three children that attend Lake Christian Academy in Sunrise Beach.
Pastor Thom and Stacy attended Rhema Bible Training Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They graduated in 2004. He graduated with a degree in Pastoral Ministry and Stacy graduated with a degree in Youth Ministries.
He says he loves living on the quiet side of the lake. “I want to continue to see it grow and I love that people still wave to you and they will help a stranger in need,” Pastor Thom enthused.
Service times
The Door offers nursery, children, youth and adult services at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and a discipleship bible study at 9 a.m. on Sunday. Sunday Worship Service for all ages is at 10:30 a.m. They have modern-contemporary type worship, akin to the worship bands Hillsong and Jesus Culture.
“We believe the local church is placed in the community to win the lost and to train the found,” Pastor Thom said. “Everyone needs Jesus as their personal Lord and savior. I have found the Bible to be the absolute Word of God, and as Believers we are to live our entire lives according to the Word and I feel it is important to be plugged into a local church where you can serve and grow.”
“We hope that when people walk in The Door it feels like they are with family,” Pastor Thom said. “We have a message that is straight from the Father to you, one that we hope will touch you right where you are at.”
“Youth and children are the biggest priority of our church, because they are the future,” Pastor Thom said. The Door has a vibrant children’s and youth ministry with Youth Pastors Eli and Abbi Delhotal and Children’s Pastor Shawn Scheffler.
“We want to reiterate the principles in the Bible, including the importance of honoring your father and mother. Scripture is specific on how we should live our life and it has the best advice for children’s and teens on how to react to peer pressure at school and to all the other issues they may face.”
The Door has many outreaches to children and youth, including an annual three-day “Lake Invasion” event where as many as 200 youth have attended from the Missouri and Arkansas region.
Harvest Festival event
A free Harvest Festival for kids of all ages is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13 at The Door. There will be carnival games, inflatables, prizes, music and candy. Everyone is welcome.
Family
“We care about strengthening families,” Pastor Thom said. “We want to help families build their world around the Word. It should impact them as parents, as employees, as community members and as students.”
The Door also offers seasonal bible studies for men and women, a women’s retreat every Spring and Celebrate Recovery at 6 p.m. Monday nights. Celebrate Recovery is about getting free from fear, hang ups and addictions. Call the church for all upcoming dates and times at 573-374-6323.
Pastor Thom says The Door is a ‘local church with a world vision.’ Church members take regular missions’ trips and The Door gives 10 percent of their general fund to Rhema Missouri/Arkansas Region missionaries that are serving in; Haiti, Canada, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Nigeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Africa and Greece.
The Door is currently taking donations for their annual outreach; Operation Christmas Child, where they send 500 Christmas boxes to children, in the name of Jesus. Interested persons may give monetary donations, or donations of small toys, toiletry items, crayons and school supplies.
The church is located at 212 Faith Blvd, Laurie, Mo. 65037. Visit them online at openeddoor.org
