God has used the gospel to form so many joyful and humble Christ-treasuring servants at Kaleo Church. Oftentimes we don't see a majority of the service people do to glorify Christ and serve His body. This week we want to introduce you to Dylan Lauber. We asked Dylan some questions and hope it will encourage you as well as help you better know him. Enjoy!
1. How and when did Jesus draw you to himself?
I started going to church with my dad and sister when I was in third grade. I started to see something about our God, and going into sixth grade God opened up an opportunity. On the summer church trip I jumped for joy to hear I could be baptized. Though my understanding was elementary, I knew that I needed Christ to save me from my sin and this world's brokenness. My life was changed for the better, but it was a slow decline to practically walking away from the church from high school through most of college. A lack of knowing Christ and being taught to follow led me away. Thankfully, Christ drew me back very powerfully in 2015. It was through the book of Mark at a college ministry spring break camp that I was seriously convicted about how I left my first love. I realized I thought it was okay to passively follow Christ and learned I needed/wanted to actively follow Christ. I'm so glad that Christ faithfully kept me through my ignorant youth and convicted me of my habitual sin so that I may be blessed with knowledge of His presence in my life.
2. How long have you been a part of Kaleo Church?
I joined Kaleo Church with the group of us who came over from Red Door Church in April 2018. Wes was the leader of the first Kaleo Missional Community I was apart of when our group joined in.
3. What is your favorite thing about Kaleo?
What I love dearly about Kaleo is the people. From formal leadership to the every day member of Kaleo, I see the Spirit of Christ at work, and the Gospel taking root in our hearts. Theology (the study of the nature of God) and doxology (praise of that God) coming together in a family united by Christ. We are not a perfect family, but we don’t have to be, and seeing that imperfection lead to repentance and faith is a part of what I love.
4. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your family?
I am a San Diego local! Well, North County doesn't count for the hardcore SD locals, but Carlsbad is in SD! My parents got divorced when I was about 6 years old and my only sibling was about 3 (sister, Ashley). We lived mostly 50/50 with both parents for the majority of our childhoods. Dad’s side of the family is from Long Island, NY and Mom’s is from Santa Monica, CA. Currently my mom and sister live in North County and my dad remarried moving to Mesa, AZ. Ask me anything!
5. How did you start leading a Missional Community? What has been most encouraging? Most challenging?
Josh Moffit, our resident pastor and my Elder when we were back in the Red Door era, invited myself and a few others to help plant a new MC at the start of 2020. Sam Stone and I were asked to help Co-Lead with him, and were later invited onto leadership. After helping lead alongside Josh, the MC growing over the pandemic year, and being trained up by other leaders, Sam and I planted another MC. We now lead together in the Vista Colina/La Mesa area since January 2021. It has been most encouraging to see the people in our MC ,who make up our MC family, learn about and love Jesus more. We see barriers broken, sin defeated, and the Gospel spread internally and outward as a little family of God. So much is encouraging that it wouldn’t fit in this update!
It has been most challenging to hold in tension the lack of trust that comes with new relationships and younger leadership, my struggles with pride and control, alongside people who are also dealing with their own sin & struggles.
6. What words of wisdom would you give to someone wrestling with whether or not to join a Missional Community?
It would be a joy to talk with them and hear exactly what they are struggling with in particular. I would always suggest seeking wise counsel from people who know, love, and proclaim Christ as well as know and love you! To take into consideration our pastors' love for us and how one way it is expressed is through the ecclesiology (nature and structure of the Church) of Kaleo. Looking at MCs as something set up for all of the church body to thrive in community together, smaller weekly family meetings, that give space to intentional living amidst our busy lives. Seek to know and understand what Missional Communities are about and how they serve to help us love Christ & our neighbor, then wrestle away with the Lord!
7. How else do you serve at Kaleo?
I enjoy serving in the kids ministry, hospitality, and help facilitate the prayer team. Also, I like to look for opportunities to serve in ways that are less formal, as in meal trains and spur of the moment needs.
8. What are some of your favorite things to do when you get some free time?
Top of the list is spending time with friends (especially Brittany!), doesn’t matter much what we are doing. More specifically I enjoy beach volleyball, spikeball, basketball, movies/TV, and tabletop RPGs (like Dungeons & Dragons). If you can count it as a way to spend free time, I also enjoy serving others and being available to truly know my friends.
9. What are you currently reading?
I am not much of a reader, I have been in and out of Gentle and Lowly & Walking with Jesus Through his Word. Most of my reading is Kaleo Bible Institute reading (spending time in 1 Peter, also for the Beauty of Jesus’ in our MC). Daily in Paul David Tripp’s New Morning Mercies and rereading the sermon series passages. I also try to never miss a weekly devotional from our weekly email.
10. What is something that most people do not know about you?
I am fairly open and outgoing with my life but I have been made aware of a few things over the years. For starters, people have seemed to be surprised to find out that I spent most of my life fairly short, overweight, and financially unstable. Also, despite my fairly joyous and excitable personality I can also get very sad or mad. Finally, the biggest misconception is that I am always busy or have good plans, but in reality love being invited or pursued. Seriously, ask me anything!
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