Thirty Years of Light

One of the most historic relationships that CDF Capital has maintained over the years is with Lighthouse Christian Church in Oceanside, California.

When the first loan with the church was initiated in 1970, members of then Twin Cities Christian Church were challenged to invest funds at CDF Capital to cover the amount of the loan. The congregation responded and the church was able to construct a worship center, fellowship hall, classrooms, and offices.

The first loan amount: just $85,000.

Years later, Senior Pastor, and CDF Capital Board Member, Richard “Dick” Miller decided to pass the torch to a younger man who could lead the church through its next phase of growth. Mike Openshaw was a student at Lincoln Christian Seminary and had been challenging his fellow students to “go west,” seeing the need for the gospel in California. Now it was his turn.

After fifteen years of ministry in Illinois and in his home state of Georgia, Mike succeeded Dick to lead Twin Cities in 1993. In the year 2000, Twin Cities worked with CDF Capital to purchase land on one of the highest points in Oceanside. They changed the church’s name to Lighthouse Christian Church, as the church could be seen as a beacon from miles around and served as a virtual lighthouse to the lost, in need of a Savior.

In 2023, Mike completed his ministry at Lighthouse. He and his wife Andrea, retired, sold their home, and moved to Montana to be closer to their grandchildren. Mike and Andrea will never really retire from ministry. It is their life’s calling to serve Christ wherever they go.

During Mike’s farewell sermon he remarked that in his time at Lighthouse, the church baptized 1,440 people. At the the end of that sermon, three more people came forward and were baptized into Christ, putting the final tally at 1,443.

Senior Vice President, Brad Dupray, has long managed the relationship with the Lighthouse church.
He had the opportunity to walk alongside Mike over three decades: from developing properties, to raising investments from church members, and seeing dreams fulfilled. He observes, "of course, the building of a church facility is not the end-game, it is simply a tool used to get to the ultimate goal of helping the church grow and giving the baptistry a workout."

Brad continued with some well-wishes: "Well done, Mike and Andrea. You have proven, as Dick Miller did before you, the words of I Corinthians 15:58, 'Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain, in the Lord.' Go north, Openshaws. California’s loss is Montana’s gain."