The Hunchback of Notre Dame carried Esmerelda to safety within the walls of the famous church of Notre Dame, 
crying out: "Sanctuary! Sanctuary!"

SANCTUARY

Besides being a "holy place" or a place where people meet God, a sanctuary is supposed to be A SAFE PLACE.

The mission of  The Sanctuarium  is to be a safe haven for believers and seekers; especially those who don't fit with the traditional church or who have been hurt by the church and have no desire to be involved in a local congregation. 

This site came out of my personal spiritual struggles, one of too many times when I was outside the church. I wanted to give up - to throw my faith away; but true to His word, God wouldn't give up on me.

In September 1998 I got my first computer and one month later this web site was born (originally as The Grace Cyber Cafe).

9 years later the site continues to evolve along with the ministry I believe God has placed on my heart. 

I hope you find in this site to be a REFUGE and a SAFE PLACE - a place of sanctuary.

God bless!

Pastor Z

A Little Bit About Me...
(click HERE for a detailed bio)

(Check out my profile on MySpace.com) 

 

I was raised and originally studied for the ministry in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). Although Luther's theology has had a great impact upon my faith, I acknowledge the entire body of Christ regardless of denomination. What matters is that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone---there is nothing any of us can do to earn our salvation but receive the righteousness that comes by faith in Jesus Christ.

 

I struggled with Lutheran theology for much of my teenage and adult life, eventually realizing that my problem really wasn't with Martin Luther; but with the cold formality of Lutheran "religion." I am essentially Lutheran in my theology, but I am more at home with Evangelical worship and practice (click here to see my Statement of Faith).

 

This puts me in a difficult position as I often find myself to be "too Evangelical for Lutherans" and "too Lutheran for Evangelicals."  After 25+ years experience in church work serving mostly in Missouri Synod Lutheran and Evangelical Covenant churches; I've left the institutional church to minister in the rock clubs and on the streets of Columbus, OH as well as facilitating a house church that meets in my living room.

My theological background includes:

• Lutheran Theology and Biblical Greek at Concordia University in River Forest, IL (1982-1987)
• Independent Christian Bible studies through World Christianship Ministries of Fresno, CA (1999)
• Evangelical Theology and Bible studies through Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL (1999-2002)
• Certificate for successfully completing Evangelical Christian Online Training in May of 2003.
• Diplomas in Discipleship, Deaconate & Ministry from The Prophetic Voice Institute of Cincinnati, OH July, 2003.
• Certificate of Achievement in Evangelism Ministry from Street University of Fort Smith, AR August 2003.
• Certificate of Pastoral Ministry from Cathedral University of Los Angeles, CA May 2004.
• Member of International Chaplains Association since May of 2007.

I was ordained as an independent Christian pastor by World Christianship Ministries of Fresno, CA in May of 1999.

Gary Zanow

Updated June, 2007

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