About
A church for the community.
We're a group of real people trying to follow Jesus together — and make Canton a better place along the way.
Mission
To connect our community to Jesus and one another.
Vision
To be a faith community for the community.
Our Values
How we show up.
Inventive
We respond to the needs of our neighbors with creativity and care.
Generous
We give freely of our time, resources, and love — no strings attached.
Relational
We take our relationships seriously. People matter more than programs.
Unique
We celebrate the many different and authentic ways God has made each of us.
What We Believe
Our statement of faith.
The Bible
The Scriptures are inspired by God and declare His design and plan for mankind. God's Word is true, authoritative, and sufficient.
God
There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Jesus
We believe in His deity, virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension, and personal future return.
Salvation
Any person can restore fellowship with God through trusting Jesus Christ and accepting His forgiveness.
The Holy Spirit
Christians receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at salvation, who provides resistance to sin, encouragement, and power to live for Christ.
Baptism & Communion
We practice water baptism by immersion after receiving Christ, and communion as a symbolic remembrance of Christ's suffering and death.
Healing
Christ's redemptive work provides healing of the human body through believing prayer.
Abundant Living
Jesus came to give abundant life. It is His will that His followers learn to live victorious lives on this earth.
Leadership
Meet our team.
Kevin Van Tine
Lead Pastor
Kevin was one of the founders of what is now Lakeland Community Church in 1988. He has served as Lead Pastor ever since and is married to Jan. They have three daughters and six grandchildren.
Barb Claxton
Administrative Pastor
Barb is an administrative and teaching pastor at Lakeland, a certified life coach, and the founder of our movement ministry. She and her husband Tim have a son Seth, daughter-in-law Abby, and grandchildren Macyn and Cameron.
Curtis Atchley
Associate Pastor
Curtis joined the Lakeland leadership team in 2012 as the worship leader and now oversees worship, children's ministry, and technology. He holds a degree in jazz studies from Western Illinois University and is married to Elliyah.
Our History
Over 35 years in Canton.
Lakeland Community Church was founded in 1988 as Covenant Community Fellowship by a small group of people with a simple vision: to build a church that truly served their community.
Over the decades, the church has grown and evolved — through new names, new faces, and new seasons — but the heart has always stayed the same. We exist to connect people to Jesus and to one another.
Today we gather every Sunday at our home on the north side of Canton, and we're still as committed as ever to being a church that Canton can count on.