In 1953, a small band of Pentecostal believers met at an Army barracks in New Brunswick to hold worship services. The following year we moved to a small building on Dunhams Corner Road in East Brunswick where we would worship for the next three years until we were able to buy our property on Ryders Lane. It was there that Lighthouse had our first pastor, Rev. Norman Kirk, followed by Rev. John Hammercheck.
Rev. John Deegan and his family began their ministry at Lighthouse in 1969, which lasted over 23 years. Their initial fellowship numbered at 38 people and grew to 400 members by the end of their tenure. During this time, the church enlarged it's sanctuary, finished the basement to accommodate Sunday School classes, added an educational wing and balcony to accommodate church growth. In 1985, Cornerstone Christian School began with 37 children. Through the leadership of Ruth Cushman followed by Sue Howarth, the attendance grew to 260.
After the purchase of our 35 acres on Hardenburg Lane in 1987, we began building our 30,000 square foot facility, which is able to accommodate 650 people in its new sanctuary. It also has 24 full-sized classrooms and a full-sized gym/fellowship hall. We were able to provide for our Sunday School needs and even meet the needs of our then-thriving elementary school. The school eventually closed its doors in 2013 due to the growing economic hardship in our area.
From 1993 to 2002, we were blessed to have several interim pastors. In 2002, our fellowship was blessed to have Rev. David Mazzella become our Lead Pastor. He served faithfully alongside of his wife for 15 years. During their time of leadership, we were recognized by the State & General Assembly as a vital, dynamic, and compassionate organization. It stated that our fellowship was to be respected for its outstanding youth programming, sending missionaries throughout the world, adult study groups, and support of a myriad of community programs, serving the spiritual, social, and emotional needs of its members and of its community.
After Pastor Mazzella retired in 2017, Rev. Stephen Schuessler took over the pastorship for 5 years. Pastor Mazzella then served as our interim pastor for an additional 9 months. In 2023, Rev. Joseph Parker and his wife, Robin Parker were elected as Lead Pastors to our fellowship.
Rev. John Deegan and his family began their ministry at Lighthouse in 1969, which lasted over 23 years. Their initial fellowship numbered at 38 people and grew to 400 members by the end of their tenure. During this time, the church enlarged it's sanctuary, finished the basement to accommodate Sunday School classes, added an educational wing and balcony to accommodate church growth. In 1985, Cornerstone Christian School began with 37 children. Through the leadership of Ruth Cushman followed by Sue Howarth, the attendance grew to 260.
After the purchase of our 35 acres on Hardenburg Lane in 1987, we began building our 30,000 square foot facility, which is able to accommodate 650 people in its new sanctuary. It also has 24 full-sized classrooms and a full-sized gym/fellowship hall. We were able to provide for our Sunday School needs and even meet the needs of our then-thriving elementary school. The school eventually closed its doors in 2013 due to the growing economic hardship in our area.
From 1993 to 2002, we were blessed to have several interim pastors. In 2002, our fellowship was blessed to have Rev. David Mazzella become our Lead Pastor. He served faithfully alongside of his wife for 15 years. During their time of leadership, we were recognized by the State & General Assembly as a vital, dynamic, and compassionate organization. It stated that our fellowship was to be respected for its outstanding youth programming, sending missionaries throughout the world, adult study groups, and support of a myriad of community programs, serving the spiritual, social, and emotional needs of its members and of its community.
After Pastor Mazzella retired in 2017, Rev. Stephen Schuessler took over the pastorship for 5 years. Pastor Mazzella then served as our interim pastor for an additional 9 months. In 2023, Rev. Joseph Parker and his wife, Robin Parker were elected as Lead Pastors to our fellowship.
In 1953, a small band of Pentecostal believers met at an Army barracks in New Brunswick to hold worship services. The following year we moved to a small building on Dunhams Corner Road in East Brunswick where we would worship for the next three years until we were able to buy our property on Ryders Lane. It was there that Lighthouse had our first pastor, Rev. Norman Kirk, followed by Rev. John Hammercheck.
Rev. John Deegan and his family began their ministry at Lighthouse in 1969, which lasted over 23 years. Their initial fellowship numbered at 38 people and grew to 400 members by the end of their tenure. During this time, the church enlarged it's sanctuary, finished the basement to accommodate Sunday School classes, added an educational wing and balcony to accommodate church growth. In 1985, Cornerstone Christian School began with 37 children. Through the leadership of Ruth Cushman followed by Sue Howarth, the attendance grew to 260.
After the purchase of our 35 acres on Hardenburg Lane in 1987, we began building our 30,000 square foot facility, which is able to accommodate 650 people in its new sanctuary. It also has 24 full-sized classrooms and a full-sized gym/fellowship hall. We were able to provide for our Sunday School needs and even meet the needs of our then-thriving elementary school. The school eventually closed its doors in 2013 due to the growing economic hardship in our area.
From 1993 to 2002, we were blessed to have several interim pastors. In 2002, our fellowship was blessed to have Rev. David Mazzella become our Lead Pastor. He served faithfully alongside of his wife for 15 years. During their time of leadership, we were recognized by the State & General Assembly as a vital, dynamic, and compassionate organization. It stated that our fellowship was to be respected for its outstanding youth programming, sending missionaries throughout the world, adult study groups, and support of a myriad of community programs, serving the spiritual, social, and emotional needs of its members and of its community.
After Pastor Mazzella retired in 2017, Rev. Stephen Schuessler took over the pastorship for 5 years. Pastor Mazzella then served as our interim pastor for an additional 9 months. In 2023, Rev. Joseph Parker and his wife, Robin Parker were elected as Lead Pastors to our fellowship.
Rev. John Deegan and his family began their ministry at Lighthouse in 1969, which lasted over 23 years. Their initial fellowship numbered at 38 people and grew to 400 members by the end of their tenure. During this time, the church enlarged it's sanctuary, finished the basement to accommodate Sunday School classes, added an educational wing and balcony to accommodate church growth. In 1985, Cornerstone Christian School began with 37 children. Through the leadership of Ruth Cushman followed by Sue Howarth, the attendance grew to 260.
After the purchase of our 35 acres on Hardenburg Lane in 1987, we began building our 30,000 square foot facility, which is able to accommodate 650 people in its new sanctuary. It also has 24 full-sized classrooms and a full-sized gym/fellowship hall. We were able to provide for our Sunday School needs and even meet the needs of our then-thriving elementary school. The school eventually closed its doors in 2013 due to the growing economic hardship in our area.
From 1993 to 2002, we were blessed to have several interim pastors. In 2002, our fellowship was blessed to have Rev. David Mazzella become our Lead Pastor. He served faithfully alongside of his wife for 15 years. During their time of leadership, we were recognized by the State & General Assembly as a vital, dynamic, and compassionate organization. It stated that our fellowship was to be respected for its outstanding youth programming, sending missionaries throughout the world, adult study groups, and support of a myriad of community programs, serving the spiritual, social, and emotional needs of its members and of its community.
After Pastor Mazzella retired in 2017, Rev. Stephen Schuessler took over the pastorship for 5 years. Pastor Mazzella then served as our interim pastor for an additional 9 months. In 2023, Rev. Joseph Parker and his wife, Robin Parker were elected as Lead Pastors to our fellowship.