Shepherd's Lighthouse

Michael “Mick” Rose was a force to be reckoned with during his life on earth. He was one of four rowdy boys, born and raised in San Jose, CA, and had a knack for baseball before he could even ride a bike. Mick pursued baseball with his heart and soul and began to see dreams become reality once recruited for a minor league team. He built his life around baseball and his dreams of playing Major League ball became closer and closer to his reality.

God had a very different plan for Mick. At the beginning of his rise to fame, a career ending injury left him reeling. He ran headlong into a life of drugs, alcohol, and anger. Mick had a complete identity crisis as the one thing that he had worked for his whole life was lost. Little did he know, the life change was only beginning.

 Mick’s Mom, Bonnie, his biggest supporter, was given a life altering diagnosis. As a youngster Bonnie would toss him a plastic ball to hit with his “cave man” bat for hours upon hours in the evenings after school. She never missed a game. She would sit on the porch and drink pots of coffee while he dreamed aloud about his future. She was the lifeblood and glue of their family. Then Bonnie lost her valiant fight with breast cancer at the age of 40 and Mick found himself face-to-face with rock bottom. 

In an act of grace, Bonnie met Jesus as she was in the last days of losing her earthly life. The prayers of his Grandmother and an invitation to church from his brother, led to a miraculous change in Mick’s heart. Light flooded a dark and desperate place with truth and God's saving grace. There in that place of light and freedom, God planted a new dream on Mick’s heart.

God called Mick into ministry and due to a travel mix-up, Mick ended up going to Bible college in Watertown, Wisconsin. That is where he met Martha. A dark-haired, beauty from the South that became his other half. Mick married Martha and then came three children and an eventual move to Canada where he began teaching and preaching God’s word. God then led him to take on the role of Shepherding the body of Christ.

There are many that preach, lead, and pastor. But Shepherding is a calling to exemplify the example we see in scripture of our Heavenly Father as the “Good Shepherd” in Psalm 23 and John 10. It’s a sacrificial and relational type of leadership. A call to know and see the soul and walk alongside them in discipleship. This was a passion of Mick’s and the way he always viewed a pastoral role. 

God used Mick to plant a new kind of church in Edmonton, Alberta and Mick had no doubt about what this church would be named. Lighthouse Baptist Church came to be in the early 2000s. A place where people came together in unity to worship in the light of God’s word. The Canadians were never quite sure what to do with the converted West coast boy with a heart for connecting with people. But the people under his ministry in Edmonton speak to this day about his gift for teaching.

 Mick’s greatest joy in life was no longer a bat, ball, and open field. His Savior and  family brought him the utmost joy. However, those that knew him will always remember the joy that shone through him as he taught people about the Savior that changed his life. 

Matthew 5:14-16

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Shepherd’s Lighthouse represents the heart and ministry of Christie’s father, Pastor Mick Rose and the light that he shared with others. His life exemplified Matthew 5:14-16 and how Christ desires his followers to boldly shine the light of His gospel. If you truly come to know the Savior and draw close to His heart, one cannot help but shine brightly with the light of His truth.