Planting a church in the name of God

Ron and Lori Mogab had been members of the Fountainhead Foursquare Church in Carson City for nine years.

Their hearts and lives are devoted to God and with an extra tugging at the heart of Ron, he has now committed himself as a pastor. Together, the Mogabs have planted a Foursquare church in Gardnerville.

Meeting in the facility of High Sierra Fellowship in the Haas Center, the couple are excited about their life-changing decision.

"About three years ago, I got the feeling I was being pulled for a greater purpose," Ron said.

"I was a math teacher at Douglas High School at the time. I resigned my teaching position at the end of the 1999 school year."

Ron attended an extension college of Oral Roberts University in Sparks, graduating in 2001. He then completed the appropriate licensing to become a Foursquare minister.

"I approached Louie (Locke Sr., pastor at the Carson City church) and told him I was feeling called to do this. He was happy for me."

Lori had a brief moment of apprehension, but has fully supported her husband in his endeavor.

"I was thinking 'You've got to be kidding,' when he said he wanted to be a pastor and start a church," Lori said. "But it's been great."

"Pastor Louie has seen us grow throughout the years at his church, and we've sort of been groomed by him, in how he has allowed us to serve under him," Ron said.

Lori said they started with home Bible studies and enjoyed doing that. Their responsibilities increased from there.

"They've been wonderful people," Rev. Louie Locke Sr. said of the Mogabs.

"I think of the qualities they have exhibited here, in they are servants. They want to please the Lord and they are going to do what the Lord has called them to do.

"I think their openness to love, acceptance of people and love of the Lord is a real strong part of who they are."

Locke said he also has mixed feelings about the Mogab's leaving. He said they are the kind of people you hate to see leave, but more important than that, is his happiness in seeing them respond to what God has called them to do.

"To be able to help and walk with them through this has been a joy," Locke said.

"To see them fulfill what God has called them to do is a great reward. It outweighs the pain of seeing them leave. And that's what the Foursquare church is all about -- missions and church planting."

Locke said there are nearly 2,000 Foursquare churches in the United States and more than 28,000 churches in 123 other nations.

Ron said it was a little more than a year ago, while in his second year of Bible college, he felt in his heart he was being pulled and somewhat directed to start a church.

"I thought I would probably become a youth pastor or senior pastor (after completing Bible college)," Ron said. "But other plans came about."

Both 50 years old, Ron and Lori are a very open couple. They are happy, full of life, soft spoken and encourage each other's ideas. They have two daughters; Kristy, 23, is married and teaches at Carson Middle School, Kelly is 21, attending Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo.

"We love to ski, play tennis and wake board," Ron said, who still substitute teaches for the Douglas County School District.

Lori has her own business -- Lorraine Photography -- and specializes in weddings, senior pictures and portraits.

"I worked with the high school youth at Fountainhead Foursquare," Ron said.

"Our hearts are set on getting to the teenagers. Kids open up to you when you show them that you care. Our goal is to spread the gospel and try to reach people who have never heard the gospel.

"Personally, I thought I grew up a Christian, but I'd never really heard the gospel or understood it. We're here to reach the lost."

"And share the good news," Lori added. "There has been a wave of faith (in Christ) because of 9-11. There are people who are looking for the truth.

"We want people to come as they are. God accepts you for who you are. He doesn't care what you're wearing or anything else, He loves us just the same."

Lori said she and Ron have used laundromats as outreach locations, handing out quarters and sharing the love of Jesus.

"It's been very positive," Lori said. "It's actually been pretty cool and the results are pretty good. Nobody has shied away from us."

"We're not Bible thumping," Ron said.

IF YOU GO

What: Cornerstone Christian Fellowship

When: 7 p.m. Saturdays, also youth church; Tuesday Bible study at 7 p.m.

Where: Meets in High Sierra Fellowship, 1516 Highway 395 (Haas Center) Gardnerville

Information: 690-0933