The Lightwave Community was begun as part of the Growing in God in the Countryside Project, funded by the Church Commissioners from 2019-2024. The project aims to enable rural communities to flourish, and we believe this is God’s calling for the church in the Suffolk countryside. The vision is:
- To make and grow new disciples and disciple-making leaders in the countryside, especially through the small groups of the Lightwave Community
- For our church culture and structures to be continually shaped for and by mission so that God's mission continues to flourish in the countryside in a mixed economy of different kinds of rural forms of church.
- For our rural environments to be transformed for good as Jesus is made visible through the loving service of God's people in the countryside
The main carrier of the vision is the Lightwave Community:
God's light shines in Suffolk
Lightwave is about shining God's light in Suffolk. We are a Christian community, meeting in small groups, especially in rural areas. The name comes from the idea of light waves being the way in which light spreads into dark places. Lightwave is committed to shining the light of Jesus through Christian witness and practical service: Our groups are especially involved in combatting isolation and poverty, engage in youth work, care for creation and agricultural chaplaincy.
The foundation of our social engagement is discovering Jesus as the Light of the World. We believe that Jesus calls all people to follow him and is concerned with our everyday lives. We aim to be church for people who don't normally "do church" and our groups may meet in homes, pubs, offices, schools as well as churches.
Lightwave groups do the essential things of a church - but different ways, suited to the needs of members in a small group who get to know each other well. So there are no sermons - but we study the Bible and try to put it into practice in our lives. We eat together, have fun, support each other and try to put faith to work in practical care for friends and neighbours and the most needy in our society. We are a Bishop's Mission Order in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich and always seek to collaborate with and support more traditional ways of doing church too.
Our vision is for more people to come to know Christ in Suffolk. Each group is part of the great wave of God’s love which brings light to our county.
www.lightwave.community | Weblink
Follow Lightwave on Facebook here.
Find a Lightwave Group
There is lots going on in Lightwave Find out more.
Lightwave team
Find out who is who in the Lightwave community Find out more.
Lightwave Resources
Find our resources on Insight Find out more.
Suffolk in Prayer
Praying for God’s blessing on this beautiful county Find out more.
Supporting Lightwave
Find out how you can help Find out more.
Rural Chaplaincy
Sharing God's love to those working in rural industries. Find out more.
Praying with Lightwave
Find out how you can sign up Find out more.
Love Rural
Find inspiring stories of rural evangelism Find out more.
Lightwave videos: