Seasons Church, Troy Lanning

As Troy Lanning and his family prepare to plant a church in Beaumont, California, their story is already unfolding in unexpected ways. Since January, Troy and his launch team have been gathering regularly, not in a traditional church space, but on a farm in Cherry Valley. What began as a practical solution quickly became something more meaningful. Under a large tent, families gather to worship and share meals while children fill the home nearby. It is simple, but deeply intentional.
In just a few months, that small gathering has grown into a thriving launch team.

Through community dinners and personal invitations, Troy has been building relationships with people throughout the city. Many of those now involved already live in Beaumont, forming a strong and local foundation before the church has even officially launched.
These early rhythms are not just about preparing for a service. They are shaping the kind of church this will become.

That heart was especially visible over Easter weekend. On Good Friday, families gathered on the farm for a hands-on time of worship and reflection. Children participated in a Seder-style meal, experiencing the story of Jesus through taste, smell, and storytelling. Later, families washed one another’s feet, creating a powerful and memorable picture of humility and love.

For Troy, moments like these matter deeply. Having experienced church planting as a child, he remembers what it felt like to be present but not always included. Now, as a father and pastor, he is determined to build something different. He wants a church where children are not on the sidelines, but fully part of the life of the community.

As the team looks ahead, they are preparing for their next steps. Preview services are scheduled for late summer at a local middle school, with a weekly launch planned for September 20. Each milestone brings them closer to becoming a steady presence in the city they are called to serve.

At the center of this church plant is a vision that has been shaped by Troy’s own family. His son, Jett, was diagnosed with an ultra-rare genetic condition, which introduced their family to the realities many parents of children with special needs face every day. Through that experience, Troy began to see a gap.

Many families like his are not connected to a church. Not because they do not want to be, but because they do not feel supported or understood. As Troy has spent time in Beaumont, he has already built relationships with many of these families. Again and again, he has seen the same pattern. There is openness, even a desire for community, but also real barriers that keep them from walking through the doors of a church.

That realization has become a defining part of the vision. Troy longs to build a church where families with special needs children are not just welcomed, but truly cared for. A place where parents can exhale, knowing their children are safe, supported, and seen.
At the same time, he is honest about the weight of that calling. Creating that kind of environment requires trained leaders, thoughtful systems, and resources that are not yet in place. It is a vision that feels far beyond what they can accomplish on their own.

As Troy shared, “We know these families are there. We have relationships with them. So we know God is calling us to invite them. We just do not fully know yet how we are going to care for all of those needs. But we trust that if He has given us the vision, He will also provide the way.”

As the launch approaches, Troy is also navigating the personal realities of this season. With increasing ministry responsibilities, he is committed to keeping his family as his first ministry. He wants to lead his church well, but not at the expense of his marriage or his children.

At the same time, their family is walking through a new chapter with Jett as he begins a specialized medical treatment. It is another reminder that both their calling and their daily lives require deep trust in God.

Even in the unknowns, Troy and his family continue to move forward with quiet confidence. They are not just planting a church. They are building a community for people who have often felt unseen, creating space for them to belong.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2

As Troy and his family step into this next season, we invite you to pray with them. 

Prayer:
Lord, we thank You for Troy, his family, and the calling You have placed before them. We ask that You would provide everything they need as they prepare to launch. Bring the right people, the right resources, and the right support to help them serve families with special needs well. Strengthen their family, give them wisdom, and remind them daily that You are leading this work. May this church become a place where every person feels seen, known, and loved. Amen.