Lighthouse Family Worship Center

While we have placed our stakes firmly in the ground here in Somerset, New Jersey one would have to travel back to Hickory, North Carolina in order to trace our beginnings. While our pastor Dennis P. McNulty was serving as an associate pastor at the Exodus Missionary Outreach Church in Hickory, N.C. in the winter of 2003. He was awakened one morning at three A.M. and received a word from the Lord “ Dennis you can not build on another man’s foundation” The Lord went on to tell Pastor that he was preparing to send him back to New Jersey to launch a work that would be a beacon of light for those that had lost there way. Much prayer, and fastening accompanied that morning conversation with the Lord, and all roads lead back to New Jersey.

Godly counsel was sought both from those in North Carolina as well as those close to pastor in New Jersey. Not everyone agreed that this was the right thing to do; however being convinced that He had heard from the Lord his faith needed to take action. However with no place to call our church home and no members to pastor more fasting and prayer was needed. After diligently seeking the face of God Pastor once again heard from heaven “I want you to pastor Pam”. I knew the young lady that the Lord was referring to but quite honestly was not sure she was looking for a pastor. 

After accepting an invitation to preach in South Bound Brook NJ, The Lord was preparing to show just how faithful He is. Astonished could hardly describe my feelings when the Lord began to unfold his plan for this ministry, and to confirm to his servant that this was in fact the very will of God. The Lord seen fit to send Sister Pam into that service that morning at First Baptist Church South Bound Brook and for the first time publicly I shared with Pam and all that where in attendance what I had received from the Lord, that God had called me in to the pastorate and that I was preparing to launch.

Confident that further action was needed, so to was the support of my then fiancée Sister Audrey. How can two walk together unless they be agreed? Was the thought that was consuming me. Fortunately for all of us after prayerful consideration and a time of fastening she too was convinced that this was in fact God’s good, and acceptable, and perfect will for our lives. We would not only be coming together in the sanctity of marriage, we also humbly realized that God’s plan for bringing us together went far beyond that. The purpose of this union was unfolding before us and God had ministry on His mind.

With two members and growing support from family and friends, it was time to wait on the Lord. I clearly understood our assignment and was seeking the face of God as to where He would place this great church. After being lead to Community Volunteer Fire Company by the Holy Spirit I inquired as to the availability of there facilities. After some initial reservations, they agreed to let me come an address there members at one of there regularly scheduled meetings. Relying on God’s favor and the Holy Spirit to speak thru me they voted that night and we came in to agreement. Lighthouse Family Worship Center had a place to temporarily call home.

Our first service was on Sunday March, 28th 2004. There were approximately sixty people there in attendance; supporters came from as far away as Brooklyn New York. Our Greatest guest was the Holy Spirit who was showering us with His presence; the morning message was “Persuaded to Launch”.   
 
As we look back thru the annals of the history of this young church two things become very apparent. We serve a God that is still in direct communication with His children and in addition we can always rely on the Faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ. Only History will be able to tell how effective we where with what God has assigned us to do. No one yet knows what our legacy will be, or what type of impact we’ve made. Let us go forth not with an attempt to alter history, but rather to please the Lord that called us. For after all He is the Author and the Finisher of our faith.