After ten years of ministering in Winkler and growing from a home group of ten to a congregation of 250, the Lighthouse Church in Winkler is closing its doors.

Founding pastor Tony Froese explains the leadership team believes the mission of the church had been fulfilled. The congregation took time last Sunday to reflect and celebrate the last decade of fellowship at the P.W Enns Centennial Concert Hall.

The church began as a small home group in 2009. At the time, Froese says the group began as a group of ten people wrestling with what a modern Christian church should look like. Soon after a vision took shape around the idea of simply loving God and loving people.

"It definitely created a different and unique culture... I called it a church experiment," Froese explains. "This is what we felt the Holy Spirit was leading us to do and it was very beautiful."

Froese says they attempted to create an atmosphere of "come as you are" and saw new members who described themselves as far from God. Seeing people overcome addictions or troubled marriages restored were some of the many highlights. "Significant moments where we saw life-change happen," Froese says.

He adds they're continually grateful for everyone who came alongside the mission and supported the vision.

The decision then to close the church after so much success was bittersweet, Froese says, but explains their mandate was always to quit when they felt their assignment had been accomplished.

"We feel a sense of completion rather than a sense of "quitting". We finished the job we were given to do."

However, as one chapter ends, Froese says they're already looking forward to something new. Froese, together with his wife Joanna, is starting a simultaneous church plant in both Winnipeg and Winkler; one church in two locations.

Anyone from Lighthouse would be welcome to the New City Church coming this fall. An interest meeting is planned for April 12 at Northlands Parkway Collegiate.

"It's not the same church but it's the same heart... we feel like there's a new assignment ahead of us," he says. "Sometimes you have to end something to start something. Every time there's a closed door in life you can sit there and grieve that, or you can look around and say, "where's the next door or window that's opened?"'