We are a nondenominational, Christian church, meaning we have members from different church backgrounds. With our neon sign atop our church building, we are also known as the JESUS SAVES church in Roanoke. Together we desire to shine the light of Jesus in knowing and following Him.
For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:5-6
Our Name
A church in “The Star City of the South.” Roanoke’s most notable landmark is Mill Mountain Star – the world’s largest freestanding star. Every night Roanoke’s cityscape is illumined by the neon glows of Mill Mountain Star and other downtown lights… a nightly reminder of how light overcomes the darkness. Atop our church building, we also have one of Roanoke’s iconic, neon signs, shining “JESUS SAVES” to the city we love.
What we believe
Citylight is about knowing Jesus. Jesus says “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8.12). In the eternal age to come, there will be no sun or moon, but rather Jesus will be the constant illumination for God’s glorious and eternal city (Rev. 21-22, Isa. 60). Both in this world and the world to come, Jesus is the one true cityLight.
Citylight is about following Jesus. Jesus says to those who follow Him, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden… let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matt. 5.14-16). In this we find both our name and our mission, for Jesus calls us to be citylights in our homes, in this city and into the world.
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Our leadership
Under the authority of Jesus Christ and the Word of God, the membership of the Church is the final authority within this local Church. This authority is exercised through the leadership of officers – Elders to govern the church and Deacons to serve the church. The purpose of the leaders is to lovingly govern, care for, and equip the Membership to do the work of the ministry. The overall leadership of Citylight is vested in the Elders who are responsible for governing Citylight, teaching the Word of God, and tending the flock of God at Citylight. Deacons assist the Elders in providing leadership to Citylight’s various ministries and performing services of counsel, administration and implementation.
Derek Lam and his wife, Stacy, grew up in the Roanoke Valley and graduated from Glenvar High School. He was raised in a loving church and came to saving faith in Christ Jesus as an older teen. Through the years Derek has worked as a construction laborer, a museum educator, a middle and high school science teacher, and a church youth director. He is a graduate of James Madison University (B.A.), VIrginia Commonwealth University (B.S., M.T.), Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Knox Theological Seminary (D.Min.). In 2006 Derek and Stacy moved back to Roanoke to plant Citylight Church, and in 2019 this church plant and a historic church merged to become a new Citylight: the Jesus Saves Church. Derek and Stacy live in Raleigh Court with their three daughters and three sons. Derek’s passion in ministry is for more hearts to burn at the revelation of Jesus in the Scriptures (cf. Luke 24:32). With this book’s abbreviation the same as their last name, Derek and Stacy hold Lam. 3:22-24 as their family’s verses: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’”
Christian Beuggert grew up in Switzerland and met his wife, Bonnie, while serving as missionaries in the Philippines. Bonnie grew up in Martinsburg, WV. They were married in 1996 and have 3 children, Kayla, Michael and Philip. After serving as missionaries in the Philippines for 11 years and in Thailand for 9 years, they moved to the States in 2014. They served as pastor at Ghent Grace Brethren Church until the merge with Citylight in 2019. Christian is leading outreach programs and is also overseeing missions work in Asia. Their burden is to shine the light of Jesus in both our communities and the nations.
Lay Elders
- Lee Clark
- Jason Guillams
- Jeremie Shelor
- Dave Ward
Deacons
Deacons assist the Elders by providing direct, specific leadership to Citylight’s various ministries. They counsel, manage administration, and implementation.
Staff
- Stephanie Keith (Administration and Ministry Support)