Our Story
SouthLake Church grew out of a dream to bring the gospel and a vigorous expression of the Reformed faith to the shores of Lake Norman. God’s gracious hand of blessing has been upon this ministry from its beginning as a Bible study in a widow’s living room in November of 1991, until today.
SouthLake was a church planting effort of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and continues as a member congregation.
From inception, the church has embraced a vision for Christian education which found expression in the creation of SouthLake Christian Academy in 1994. SouthLake Church and Academy now occupy a 30-acre campus on the southern shore of Lake Norman.
Our Outreach
We are commissioned by Christ Himself to go into all the world, spreading the gospel, teaching people to follow and obey Christ, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We find it easy to hide the very real need for mercy existing all around us. We partner with local outreach organizations for effective ministry in our own backyard.
Our Mission
From our beginning in 191, SouthLake Church has been involved in mercy and mission locally, nationally and internationally. From Charlotte to Fargo, Thailand to England, Croatia to the Middle East, we have had the privilege of proclaiming the life-transforming gospel of Jesus Christ. We have been involved in planting churches, starting schools, and caring for widows and orphans. We believe church planting includes much more than building a physical structure. As a part of planting, we seek to build up ministries of mercy, medicine, discipleship, evangelism, literacy, job-training, and education.
Current Missions SouthLake Church Supports
Brookstone Schools
Brookstone Schools offer an opportunity for parents who want a choice in how they educate their children but are unable to afford a private Christian education. Our students learn not only facts, but how to use this knowledge in all aspects of their lives. They are learning to be polite, mature, disciplined scholars, and leaders who live in accordance with Judeo-Christian values.
Bill and Susan Carr
Bill and Susan Carr are serving MTW in the most challenging ministry of their careers. They are working with Native Americans in North Dakota. One of the greatest needs of the Native American church is spiritual leadership.
Robbie & Lydia Sweet
Robbie & Lydia Sweet serve in St. Andrews, Scotland as part of MTW's - NEXT. Reaching this next generation is a critical priority for the global Church. And this is the focus of our Next Team. They’re working to develop youth ministry movements by equipping missionaries, national leaders, and indigenous churches to reach the youth in their communities. They also provide resources, training, and care for Third Culture Kids (TCKs) and their parents.
Rob & Jenny Ilderton
In 2015 Rob & Jenny Ilderton were called to serve with Mission to the World in England. The Ilderton's help the International Presbyterian Church plant gospel-proclaiming churches. In May of 2016 they helped start Immanuel Church in the revitalizing community of Brentford, West London. Working with national partner, Stuart Cashman, Rob and Jenny are involved in outreach to the Brentford community through building relationships with people from all over the world who make Brentford their home. Rob is a pastor and elder in the church and assists in the preaching and care of the congregation. Jenny is a musician involved in the music and women’s ministry of the church. The family loves living in England and hope to plant more churches in the coming years.
The Community Pregnancy of Lake Norman
The Community Pregnancy Center of Lake Norman is a Christ-centered ministry committed to upholding the SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE by demonstrating the love of Christ to women facing crisis pregnancies through the provision of spiritual, physical, and emotional support
The center was founded in 1985 by two women who saw the need to help women in crisis pregnancies. The center was incorporated and the first board of directors established in 1986. The center is supported by churches, individuals, businesses, and fundraisers.
Rev. Ondrej & Milina Franka
Rev. Ondrej and Milina Franka were born and raised in Christian family in the former Yugoslavia or nowadays Serbia. In his teenage years Ondrej accepted the Lord as his personal Savior, through the ministry of Billy Graham. In 1973 they were married and being discipled by American missionary, Ondrej was challenged to become himself a missionary to his own people.
In 2008 Ondrej has been elected to be the President of the Union of Baptist Churches (UBC) in Serbia. Thus leading over 70 churches in the country where the evangelical Church is not even officially recognized. In the year 2010 Ondrej re-established the Baptist Theological School in Novi Sad, Serbia.