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This March we will complete our succession process for Lifegate’s Lead Pastor role that began over three years ago. Pastors Les Beauchamp and Micah Eldridge are of one heart, mind and spirit in this. To take the best care of our church, Lifegate’s Eldership has provided a clear path to make this as seamless as possible.

We’re taking four weekends to complete the succession process as a church:‍

March 5 & 12 - The Mantle and the River

A biblical perspective on healthy transition that gives us hope.‍

March 19 - Celebrating Pastor Les & Kris

AM - Celebratory services at all campuses with special guests. We will be taking a special offering for Les and Kris and invite you to bring a card and financial gift, or use the QR code provided in the service.
PM - We’re throwing a party to celebrate Les & Kris at West Dodge, everyone is invited! This service will start at 6:00pm.‍

March 26 - Succession Sunday

Officially Passing the Mantle of Leadership to Pastor Micah Eldridge. Apostolic overseers & key leaders will be in attendance to commemorate this significant moment for Lifegate.

Story

Les and Micah’s paths intersected early on at a youth camp in Marietta, Georgia where Micah was a student and Les was often the guest speaker. When Micah was 18, Les baptized him in a lake at that camp and spoke prophetically over Micah’s life. In 1999 Micah interned in Trinity’s youth department for a summer. After completing university, Micah and Shireen continued to impact students through the Wesley Foundation at the University of Georgia.

When a position opened up to lead Trinity’s Young Adult Ministry (Converge) in 2007, Micah and Shireen reached out to interview - it was a great fit right from the beginning.

Only months after moving to Omaha, Trinity went through it’s second church split and Micah and Shireen committed to stay and serve God’s people with Les and Kris. This experience bonded them in the following years as the new name and vision for Lifegate emerged in Les’ heart.

Over the years, Micah has faithfully taken on new roles at Lifegate from starting the Ibex Leadership program to pastoring at Lifegate Midtown to serving as an Executive Pastor and Elder. Les would also bring him along on several speaking engagements throughout this time.

Kris and Shireen have been friends from the beginning and while Shireen was investing all her energy into mothering 4 kids, she would look forward to a weekly gathering of young staff moms that Kris hosted at her home. Shireen has been on staff for the last five years as Lifegate’s Women’s Pastor and also oversees Adult Discipleship, fulfilling a dream of Micah and Shireen's to partner together in ministry.

Around 2013 God began to reveal to Les that Micah may eventually be the one to receive the mantle of leadership for Lifegate. When Les first floated the idea to Micah, he and Shireen were surprised and stretched by the thought of leading Lifegate in the future. Over the next few years Micah, Shireen and the Elders were on a discernment journey, seeking God for the next best step for Lifegate. Then, in 2019, Micah and Shireen joyfully decided together to accept the offer and begin the process of succession. The process was then made public in August of 2020.

These 4 continue to be great friends and enjoy being a part of each other’s lives. They look forward to their friendship only increasing in the coming years. The best is yet to come!