About
Previously the church was known as Sonlight Christian Fellowship (SCF), a Foursquare Church, and was founded in 2003 by Pastor Mike and Carol Byington. The church began in a local ice-cream shop.
In 2010, construction on a new church building began, and is still in the process of being completed. The church was constructed with much volunteer help, and so far looks amazing. This new church building is the current facility where the church meets, at Keystone Business Park, in Camdenton, Missouri.
Over the years, the members of the church have been actively involved in their community with many outreaches, and other ministries. Most notable was their annual firework display, celebrating freedom, and Independence Day. This event was well attended, and the church blessed the community with providing free food.
In 2018, the church went through a pastoral transition, due to the founding pastor retiring. Regretfully, this transition was not a successful one, and the church went through a difficult time. In July 2019, an interim pastor was appointed to care for the members that remained. To add to these struggles, March 2020, saw the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic which also affected the church, the USA, and the rest of the world.
In January 2020, Rev. David Page began traveling to the church to assist the interim pastor, and, on September 13th 2020, he accepted the role of Lead Pastor. From this time he began to relaunch the church, based on the leading of the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God.
Back in April 2020, Pastor David had received insights in prayer to the future direction of the church, including a change of name. However, he was also sensitive to the needs of the current church members. Changing the name of a church is not something that is done lightly. He decided to wait, and wait upon God's timing. Within two weeks, through prayer, and the Holy Spirit leadings to those in the church, God was making it clear about the change of name! Following the Council, and membership vote, Elim Foursquare became the new name of the church, in October 2020.
In the Bible, a name can have great importance as it reveals God's vision, and purpose for that individual or group of people.
As mentioned previously, the word "Foursquare" refers to Jesus, and reveals Him as our Saviour, our Healer, our Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, and our Soon-coming King.
The meaning behind the name "Elim" can also be found in the Bible. Following their escape from Egypt, the Israelites are traveling in the wilderness, a desert like environment. They have already complained to Moses, about the need for water...
Exodus 15: 22 -27 So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.
- No Water
23 Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter.
- Bad Water
Therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.
- God healed the waters.
There He (God) made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, 26 and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.”
- God gives Israel the Healing Covenant.
27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.
- Fresh Water - and shelter from the heat - A place of refreshing in the wilderness.
- Like an oasis in the desert.
Although the fulness of God's plan for Elim Foursquare has not been fully revealed, this picture of Elim from the Bible fits well with the vision that God has given the leadership. The church is to offer a shelter from the world, a place of healing, and spiritual refreshing for those needing rest... on their way to the promised land.
The New Testament Scripture that confirms this in Acts 3:19. It shares that for those that choose Jesus as their Lord, and Savior that they may receive "times of refreshing" that "come from the presence of the Lord."
To summarize the vision, and purpose of Elim Foursquare:
"It is a church that offers a safe place for spiritual refreshing, healing, and restoring, with its focus on Jesus Christ, The Savior, The Healer, The Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, and The Soon-coming King!"
Welcome to Elim!
