The first worship experience at Exousia Lighthouse Christian Ministries was held on November 16, 2003 in Pastor Carl McRae’s house at 2569 Harvest Drive in Conyers, Georgia. This new ministry was birthed by 13 people who elected to disembark from County Line United Methodist Church where Pastor McRae served as senior pastor for six and half years. On this balmy fall morning, these individuals set out on this divine adventure because they had grown ‘tired of church as usual’ and wanted to do ministry in a different context.

Within one month, the wall that separated the exercise room from a bedroom in the basement was demolished as the number of people who joined quickly increased to over 50. This was the first of many walls that has fallen on behalf of this ministry.

The vision for Exousia became clear even before they left County Line. Exousia would be a place that was truly ministry-minded. The focus would be on meeting the needs of people by feeding their stomachs, their minds and their spirits. Consequently, the Church gave boxes of food to scores of individuals and families in need while at the same time providing comprehensive counseling to people trying to navigate through the vexing issues of their lives.

This sense of mission, evangelism, and concern for the community has been apart of the ministry from its inception. The founding members understood that one could not effectively minister to the souls of a community unless it also sought to provide for the overall well being of that community. With this purpose in mind, members of Exousia set about busily caring for those in need as the Pastors, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit taught and preached kingdom principles.

Transforming lives through self-exploration and guidance and counseling is of significant interest to Exousia founding pastors Carl and Brenda McRae who have been married for 32 years. This is borne out by their educational and experiential backgrounds. Pastor Carl McRae holds dual Master’s of Divinity in Pastoral Care and Psychology of Religion and a Master’s of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling, and Pastor Brenda McRae holds a Master’s in Social Work and a Master’s of Arts in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Both have over 30 years combined in the helping profession. Clearly, helping individuals and couples navigate through the issues of their lives has long been a lifelong calling and passion of these presiding pastors.

In addition to counseling services, the McRae’s frequently conduct workshops for fellow pastors to help them understand the importance of providing trained pastoral counseling to their membership. Because of their expertise in pastoral care and counseling, external pastors and covenantal partners began making referrals from their respective ministries to Pastors Carl and Brenda McRae. At times they themselves were comforted from the counsel of these anointed vessels of honor.

The success of these services and programs solidified Exousia’s reputation as a place where individuals and families can come to get the emotional and psychological support and healing they need and to equip people to reconcile problems within themselves or their households.

In January 2004, Exousia began renting worship and office space from Greater Anointing Tabernacle located on Turner Hill Road. This arrangement benefited both churches because Greater Anointing Tabernacle was having difficulty making its mortgage payments. It was here that Exousia held the first public launch service.

Hundreds of supporters came out to celebrate this move of God and to show their support for what God was doing. The event was consummated by a consecration service commissioning the work of God and confirmed by the laying on of hands services led by Pastor Darryl Winston of the Church of Greater Works, Exousia’s Apostolic Father. It was here that Pastor Winston offered a powerful sermonic charge sealing the prophetic anointing that rests in this ministry. Joining in the celebration were Apostles Sharon and Mel Milon, Dr. Connie Williams and Reverend Woodrow Williams.

The rental arrangement at Greater Anointing Tabernacle was short-lived as they soon were forced to close their doors. This left Exousia with little choice but to move back into the basement of the Pastors’ home.

After a successful public launch service and amid the ensuing enthusiasm, one can only imagine the degree of disappointment felt by members as they moved back to the basement. The congregation lost members with the realization that building a ministry is a difficult task requiring much prayer, sacrifice and hard work. This truth began to set in as Exousia was compelled to worship again in the basement.

Exousia met in the basement just a couple of Sundays before a storefront building once occupied by a start up United Methodist Church became available. God made it possible for the congregation to move quickly to 505 Santa Fe Trail in Ellenwood, Georgia.

The move to the newly remodeled 3,500 square foot facility created a new sense of resolve and excitement. The location was within a few miles of the County Line United Methodist Church from which they had come.

Again, Exousia’s membership grew. Curiosity-seekers wondered into the church to find not only a refreshing music ministry, but a powerful God-centered, people focused ministry with life-transforming Word.

The membership doubled in the two years that services were held in the storefront facility. The membership roll swelled to some 100 individuals while there were approximately 50 consistent worshippers.

It was an exhilarating time because it was here that the Food Ministry expanded to new heights. Exousia became a member of the Atlanta Community Food Bank and began feeding hundreds of families in the Ellenwood/Stockbridge area. The Food Ministry aptly named “Dollies’ Pantry”, after Dollie Smarr, Exousia’s Mother of Zion, an honorary position given to the ministry’s Matriarch for her love for God and His desire that people be fed, continued to make an even more pronounced mark in the lives of many people.

While at Santa Fe Trail, the number of ministries expanded. The first Musical Summer Camp that taught campers basic skills on five different instruments was initiated. The hand of God moved in the children’s ministry as the ministry became certified to host an after school program and a parents day out program.

December 2006 brought another move for Exousia to 2562 Snapfinger Woods Drive in Decatur. By this time, the ministry had a committed group of leaders and members who, after three years, were solidly planted and convinced that this was a work that had a much larger purpose and destiny. They were not apt to be thrown by the inevitable turbulence encountered by a ministry that was determined to fly in uncharted atmospheres.

The church building was intimately small in size however the spirit of the congregation was gigantic. It was here that the membership grew in number and in diversity. People from different faith paradigms joined the church. Folks from Trinidad-Tobago, Guyana, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, New York and as varied of religious perspectives as Hindu became a part of Exousia Lighthouse.

On Snapfinger Woods Drive, Exousia sincerely began to live out the tag line: “Tired of Church as Usual? So are we!” Many people become active in this ministerial movement. Exousia was not interested in just having a worship service for a couple of hours on Sunday; theirs was a ministry genuinely engaged in transforming lives and everyone had a role in accomplishing this work.

The Exousia Executive Team, which started at the outset of the ministry, meets on the Tuesday before the first Friday of each month. In these meetings the ministerial leaders discussed the books, records and plans for ministry and they own each decision the group makes while discerning their respective parts of this powerful organism called Exousia.

On the Friday following the Executive Team meeting, a Core Team meeting is held in which all the members of the church come together to discuss the business of the church. The financial books are open for review and strategies are developed to support the vision and goals identified from the preceding Executive Team Meeting. This is the manner in which Exousia has operated from its inception. Because of this God policy of inclusion and joint ownership of the ministry, God blessed Exousia to finally purchase its first church building.

In December of 2007, Exousia closed on the new edifice located at 2562 Bond Street in Lithonia, Georgia. The church is brick and has a 200 seat sanctuary, several classrooms, kitchen and an adjunct building.

Exousia is located on three acres in downtown Lithonia in a fully restored church that was once the home to a stringently segregated Lithonia Presbyterian Church. With in a short time after the move, many new members has joined the committed Exousia family.

Not only was there growth in the number of members, there was also increased enthusiasm, exuberance power and authority. Exousia has an extraordinary Youth Ministry which includes a vibrant dance ministry and a Youth Basketball Team (ELI Soldiers). The youth leadership ministry includes economic development, evangelism and a Youth Entrepreneurial Institute held during the summer. The Musical Summer Camp targets inner-city youth and introduces them to the love of music.

More than Conquerors, a vibrant and transforming Men’s Ministry, continues to grow and empower fathers to take their rightful role as leaders, in their church, homes and communities.

Dollie’s Pantry has expanded greatly. Through the relationship with Partnership for Community Action, Exousia has distributed over 2,000 pounds of food to families in Lithonia and surrounding communities. Exousia is currently the largest regional distributor of food through the Partnership for Community Action.

Exousia has recently become the only church chosen as a facility of Energy Assistance to enable elderly and low income individuals, receive financial assistance with their utilities during the winter months.

Additionally, Exousia has fed hundreds of families through its Angel Food Ministry and its relationship with various grocery stores in the community.

Exousia’s outreach efforts have expanded significantly from those days when they randomly chose families from economically challenged communities to distribute flyers and food. Exousia also provides hot food to homeless individuals during the course of the year.

Despite the many churches that have stood guard in this city for hundreds of years, it appears as though, in some sort of divine acknowledgment of the prophetic anointing to speak truth to power that Exousia brings to the city of Lithonia, Exousia was chosen be the host site of the first and only Mayoral debate for upcoming election.

In November of 2003, a ministerial movement began with a promise to transform many lives. By faith, Exousia has seen many miracles, signs and wonders as they have witnessed the hand of God bless their efforts. With over 500 members and continuous growth every Sunday, God continues to do the things for which she was created.

As Exousia moves into the next phase of existence, the congregation looks forward to opening transitional houses for youth as well as recovery houses for persons struggling with the disease of addiction. It is with this in mind that members look with great excitement at what God is doing at Exousia. Whatever God is doing, they are assured of this one thing: it will not be usual because at Exousia Lighthouse International Christian Ministries, they “walk in authority…shining God’s light!”.