New church makes waves in Lakewood

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Just more than a year ago, as the Rev. Aaron Klein challenged his congregation in Pennsylvania to do something risky — possibly something crazy — for God, he never dreamed the message would be one God used to get his own attention.

Klein recognized he and his family lived in safety and security. He loved his job and had food on the table, plenty of friends and a network of support.

So what would taking a risk look like for a pastor? he thought. Whatever you ask, God, that’s what I’ll do.
While sitting at his office the next day, Klein received life-changing phone call. Although he didn’t know the person at the other end of the phone, the man’s message was clear.

“He asked us to pray about starting a church in Florida,” Aaron Klein said. “For me, it was like, ‘God, you cannot be serious.’”

Klein, his wife, Nicole, and four children — Adriana, Nathaniel, Gabriel and Samuel — moved to the East County in August to start Current Community Church, which began holding preview services March 25, at Nolan Middle School.

“We’re not here to be a church for the churched,” he said. “We want to be so different that people see Jesus living in us. We want to be a community of authentic people. Come as you are — for better or worse.”

The Kleins first visited the Lakewood Ranch area about a year ago to look and to pray about what their future may hold. During an intensive interview and pastor candidate-vetting process with the New Wave Network, a church multiplication initiative of the Classis of Florida/Reformed Church in America, the Kleins learned about the network’s vision for launching five churches along the Interstate 75 corridor in Southwest Florida.

“We loved where we were,” Aaron Klein said. “Truthfully, we were scared to (death to move). We said, ‘God, you better write a sign in the sky,’ as a joke.”

And the next day as they headed back to their hotel, an airplane spelled out, “Trust Jesus,” in the sky.

The Kleins took their cue, accepting the opportunity to start a church in the Lakewood Ranch area. The Kleins said they hope their church will give people a place to develop relationships with each other while learning about God.

Current Community Church currently holds public worship services twice monthly and uses the remaining Sundays for discipleship and community service.

For more information on the church or its schedule, visit currentcommunitychurch.org/about-us.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].