Story of Living Well Church
The planting of a Church on the Tweed Coast was birthed in Kari and Kathy Tanttari’s hearts in 2004. After a time of prayer, planning and preparation, the Ballina leaders decided to invite Jamie & Fiona Tasker from the Hillsong Church in Sydney to help us start the pioneer Church.In the beginning, people from Ballina would travel to support the Sunday afternoon meetings held in the Tasker’s home at 27 Urunga Dr, Pottsville Beach. The first service was held on the 6th March 2005.
Soon the Sunday services were moved to the Pottsville Community Hall . New people started to come along and there was steady growth, with the young church starting to reach into the community. Within the first 12 months the Church was reaching 28 local people, with an average of 22 people at the Sunday services. Six people had made decisions for the Lord!
The services were changed to Sunday mornings.An impacting Christmas Carols festival was held on the Pottsville oval with around 2,000 people attending.The annual skate comps were started, with up to 500 people coming.The Church was being recognised and respected in the community.Faithful local people worked together as a team to see the Church become established.
Yes, there have been some tough times, but the Lord has been faithful and strengthened each one through it all.
After three years, Jamie & Fiona, along with their children Joshua and Ben, felt to move to Alice Springs and now serve the Lord there.A local team, including Margaret Connors, Annette McDonald & Sonya Brown, worked together with support from Ballina to run the church until October 2008, when Ps Alan and Vanitha Pillay were appointed as Pastors.
In March 2010 Beachside was registered as an autonomous incorporated entity and developed its own administration including the appointment of its church board.On 1 August 2013 Alan stepped into full time ministry.
Since its inception , the Church has experienced strong health and influence within the community ,and different parts of the world, with new people getting connected, ministry teams being established and a greater impact being made in its mission to make a real difference in the community ,nation and world
The church relates to around 300 people weekly , including connect groups, Pantry, Chaplaincy and its other Community Engagement emphasis.
In June 2018 the Church changed its name to Living Well Church with this affirmation in mind: “Living Well and Enjoying Life ,in Christ”
Durng the restrictions during Covid Crisis the church was closed and moved to an online platform and will continue to do so in this manner.
There are great plans for the future in seeing growth , and by preaching the good news of Gods Love on the online platform to various parts of the globe