about & visit

come as you are -
Here is What to expect

Everything you need to know before you walk through our doors: who we are, what we believe, who leads us, and how to find us.

What We Believe

Simple convictions, deeply held

We're not big on complicated statements of faith. Here's what we believe, in plain terms.

Our Mission

"We exist to know Jesus, follow His ways, and reflect His character."

01

the Bible

We believe the Bible is God's Word — true, trustworthy, and the final authority for how we live.

02

Jesus

We believe Jesus is God's Son, who lived, died, and rose again to make a way for us to know God.

03

Grace

We believe we're saved by grace through faith — not by earning it, but by trusting in what Jesus has done.

04

The Church

We believe church is a family, not a building — people committed to knowing and following Jesus together.

05

Everyday Faith

We believe faith isn't just for Sunday — it's meant to shape how we live, love, and serve every day.

06

Mission

We believe every believer is called to reflect Christ's character and share His love with others.

First Time Here?

What to expect on sunday

No surprises, no pressure — just a simple, honest gathering built around Jesus.

01

A Warm Welcome

Someone will greet you at the door — no name tags, no forms to fill out, just a genuine hello.

03

Bible Taught Plainly

A straightforward message from Scripture. We encourage everyone to bring a physical Bible. If you don't have one, we'd love to gift you one.

02

Worship Together

We sing a few simple songs as one family — all ages, all in the same room, no separate services.

04

Stay & Connect

Stick around, meet people, and ask us anything. Our pastors would love to meet you and introduce themselves to you. 

What to Wear?
Come as you are. Jeans are just as welcome as your Sunday best — we mean it.

What About My Kids?
Families worship together in the same gathering — there's no need to drop your kids off anywhere.

How Long Is It?
Our gathering runs about an hour, start to finish — simple by design.

Our Leadership

The people who shepherd our family

A family, committed to keeping things simple and pointing our church back to Jesus.

Lead Pastors

Stephen & Jennifer Schlabach

Stephen and Jennifer Schlabach founded Shining Light Church in 1994 out of a simple conviction: Sarasota needed a church that pointed people back to the love of God and the truth of His Word. For over 30 years, they've led Shining Light with that same passion. Their heart has always been for the church to stay simple and stay true, so that people can know Jesus, follow His ways, and grow together as a real community.

Teaching & Worship Pastor

Ross Schlabach

Ross Schlabach is a graduate of Southeastern University with a passion for teaching God's Word in a way that's clear, practical, and easy to carry into everyday life. He's also spent over 10 years serving in worship ministry, with a heart for leading people into honest, heartfelt worship — not performance. As a son of Shining Light's founding pastors, Ross carries the same conviction that shaped the church from the start: keep it simple, and keep it centered on Jesus.

Come as you are.

No dress code, no expectations — just an open seat and a genuine welcome.

9:30

7:00

Sunday AM
Wednesday PM

Our location.

3675 Clark Rd, Sarasota, FL US 34233

Get in Touch

Have Any Questions?

We'd love to hear from you — reach out any time and a real person will get back to you.

Address
3675 Clark Rd, Sarasota, FL 34233

Phone
(941) 366-9903

Email
slc@shininglightchurch.org

Office Hours
Tue–Thu, 10am–4pm

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