About Light of the World Prayer Center

Mission Statement

We exist to Glorify God, and exalt Jesus through night and day prayer and worship for Global Harvest.

Vision

This ministry will provide a place for 24 hour praise, prayer and worship for the sake of the lost and broken people of our area, and the world, unity Whatcom County believers around God’s heart through prayer and worship. Light of the World Prayer Center is a place where night and day, Spirit-led, Scripture-fed, Worship-based prayer ignites fresh passion for Christ. It is our hope that LOWPC can be a place where believers young and old, from many churches and backgrounds, gather in unity at the throne of grace. As a lighthouse of prayer, we want to shine the light of God’s grace and blessing into local churches, families, ministries, schools, businesses, health-care centers, media, and government leaders.

In this place people gather in Jesus name, praying and singing God’s Word 24/7, organized around weekly prayer meetings, 1-2hr each with a prayer leader present at each one. This is a multi-church, multi-denominational effort.

Primary Objective

To see Whatcom County transformed to the Glory of God! May the Lamb receive the due reward for his sufferings! Ps. 2:8

Seven Spheres of Prayer

To see God’s transformation in every area of our culture, we have chosen to focus our intercession on seven spheres of society:

Church—Family—Business—Government—Education—Healthcare—Media

For each sphere a Transformation Task Force team identifies key prayer targets in their sphere and communicates those targets to the prayer center and local churches. Through this kind of informed, targeted intercession, we will track and see measurable results of God’s activity in the transformation of Whatcom County to the Glory of God!

“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the Supremacy!” –Col. 1:18

Board of Directors

Jason Hubbard, Director & Founder

Background: After studying Spiritual Theology with a focus in Spiritual Renewal Movements and receiving his Master’s in Christian Studies at Regent College, Jason’s heart for prayer and other spiritual disciplines grew. Jason served for nine years as the Associate Pastor of Prayer at Christ the King Church (CTK) in Bellingham and in 2009, he resigned with a full blessing to become the full-time President and Director at the Light of the World Prayer Center.

Jason’s personal mission statement is to be an “extravagant worshipper of God, an anointed deliverer of men and a Godly husband and father”. He has been married 18 years and lives with his wife and three children in Bellingham where they attend Birchwood Presbyterian Church.

Heart for prayer: CTK commissioned Jason as an Intercessory Missionary in Bellingham and his vision is to “ create a dwelling place for the Lord in Whatcom County where people can gather to connect, pray and worship together 24 hours a day.” Jason’s heart burns to see Kingdom transformation in Whatcom County and his ultimate desire is that “supremacy of Jesus would rule in all things.”

Favorite Scripture: John 17 & Luke 18:1-8

Scott Emory, Transformation, Ferndale Connector

Background: Scott is an active board member at the prayer center and works with Jason Hubbard to serve pastors and the various churches in Whatcom County. Some of his tasks include organizing prayer summits for pastors in the area and the statewide prayer event, “Operating Rolling Thunder”.

Heart for prayer: Scott claims that he is not a “natural prayer guy” but that he is constantly learning the power of prayer, especially corporate prayer. He desperately wants to see revival of the Church in Whatcom County and a transformation of the county as a whole. He desires to see God pleased to dwell in our county and famous and glorified.

Favorite scripture: Matt. 18:19-20, Jeremiah 29:7, 2 & Chronicles 7:14

Troy Muljat, Board Secretary

Background: Troy was born and raised in Bellingham, WA. Troy graduated from Seattle Pacific University and began his career as a Real Estate Appraiser and Real Estate Broker. Troy is married to his wife of 16 years, Heather. Troy and Heather have six children, Cameron, Chloe, Marissa, Bryce, Luke and Sadie. Troy and Heather have a heart for adoption and have adopted two children in 2009 and 2010. Troy and Heather helped launch Hope 1.27, an adoption ministry at Sonlight Church in Lynden. Troy also serves as the president of the Families of Hope Adoption Fund.

Heart for prayer: Took fire in 2006 after a trip to Jakarta Indonesia, with a family member to attend the Global Day of Prayer. On this trip, Troy experienced "prayer towers" within Indonesia, and spend time with market place leaders who truly were living for Jesus.

Favorite scriptures: John 18:37

Matt Smith, Strategic Missions

Background: Matt grew up on the mission field in South America. With a life-long heart for missions, Matt has served 11 years as the Executive Director of Kids Town, local, non-profit serving children in Romania, India and Nepal. He is married with two children and lives in Bellingham.

Heart for prayer: Matt’s heart for prayer is seeing unreached people groups in India, Nepal and other areas of Southeast Asia reached with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Favorite scripture: Isaiah 9:2

Bev Sterk, Treasurer

Background: Bev lives with her husband and three kids in Lynden. After working as a CPA for twelve years, she transitioned to stay at home with her children. She continues to use her gifts while serving as the Treasurer for the Light of the World Prayer Center.

Heart for prayer: Bev has a desire to see people’s excitement for prayer grow. “I imagine a day when crowds of people will be just as thrilled to come to a corporate prayer event as a sporting event.” Bev also wants to see people grow in their personal relationship with Jesus as they discover their “secret place.”

Favorite scripture: Proverbs’ 3:5-6 & Isaiah 55:8-9

Kurt Swanson, Board of Directors

Background: Kurt, a life-long Bellingham resident, is father to four kids and a foster baby, as well as three grandchildren. He has 21-years of experience in Bellingham real estate, and volunteers his time serving a local non-profit organization, Kids Town, with their legacy giving program. He and his wife, Lani, have been involved in the prayer center since its infancy in 2008.

Heart for prayer: Kurt said that his heart is continually growing for prayer as God teaches him more and more about its value and purpose. “Where prayer hasn’t always been as natural for me, God has been cementing how foundational it is to life.” Kurt has a huge heart for orphans as well as a vision for unity in the churches of Whatcom County.

Favorite scripture: James 1:27

Lani Swanson, Operations Director

Background: Lani has a background in marketing and retail management. She is a mother of four and has almost four grandchildren and a foster baby. Lani home schools and has enjoyed serving in Children’s ministry and healing prayer ministry. Lani has been serving at the Prayer Center, with her husband Kurt, since its inception and believes it is the “hot spot” in Bellingham.

Heart for prayer: Lani longs to see the end of abortion and she is also passionate about seeing youth encounter and fall in love with Jesus in the midst of revival.

Favorite scripture: Psalms 139, John 17:24

Matt Thompson (not pictured)

Alvin VanderGriend, Chairman of the Board

Background: Alvin was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. He graduated from Calvin College and Calvin Seminary and received a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. After 40 years of ministry, he and his wife, Carolyn, have returned to Washington and now make their home in Lynden. Alvin has traveled worldwide, speaking and training churches on the power of prayer. He has written several books including the best-seller. ‘Love to Pray’.

Heart for prayer: Alvin agrees with Helmut Thielecki, who said, “The globe itself lives and is upheld as by Atlas’ arms through the prayers of those whose love has not grown cold. The world lives by these uplifted hands and by nothing else.” He believes that intercessors are doing more in causing souls to be saved, churches to be awakened and the kingdom of god to be advanced than any other group of people.

Favorite scripture: 1 John 5:14-15