This is the Church that found me as an 12 year old boy, with my Brothers, who lived outside of Union Bridge, MD. We were from a Broken Home, where our Mother had to leave us and our Dad did all he could to keep us with him, while living on the 15 acre Blue Farm on Middleburg Road. This was back in 1978, where my older Brothers & I were offered rides from those in the Church with Big Hearts and a Love for God. The Angel Family and especially their Son David spent a lot of time teaching us that we could find the Happiness we desired that the Catholic Church could Not, then there was Asst Pastor Richard Glass Senior, who lived in Frederick, but would take his own time to make sure we made it to Church on Sundays, if we could not get a ride from the Angel Family or my now Mother-in-Law, Sister Doody. From their obedience to Hod and there Teaching and Guidance, we were all Baptized in the Wonderful "Name of Jesus Christ" for the remission of our Sins, after we were asked if we knew what the Word of God was instructing is in the Early book of Acts, which we all obeyed, after which we were all filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of God speaking through us in Tongues (not to be confused with the Gift of Tongues in Corinthians), but the promise given in Acts 2:38~42. Since that early time in the Church, my Father remarried and both of my Brothers had moved out. My Step Mother insisted on us moving to Westminster after she tried to convert me to be a Baptist, but unfortunately, they didn't want me after they learned that a 16 year old knew the scripture better then the Sunday School Teacher and ultimately better then the Pastor, who kindly asked if I would stay away. So, she moved us to Westminster & forced me to Buy her Drug Addict Brother's old Honda Motorcycle to drive year round as a 16 year old, with no push back from my Father. During my 2 years in Westminster until I was of age to move out, our recently new Pastor of the Lighthouse Michael Mangold, would sacrifice 1 night a week and come to visit me, where we started to play Racquetball together, and in that time, I knew I had found a Man who truly and deeply cared for my soul. On Sunday's, I would ride my Motorcycle in any kind of weather to go to the Apostolic Lighthouse in Frederick, MD, where I had not just been found my Savior and my Savior gave me a new and Loving Family, who continued to teach me how to become a proper Loving, Caring and Respectful Adult. After dating my future wife, Paula, and working several jobs at age 16 & living that Summer with my Brother Jonathan, I was able to buy a small Honda Civic, which enabled me to move in & rent a room from my Mother, closer to Church and my Fiancé, in Detour, MD. After which God directed me to a Great Career. This was shaping the Man I would grow to be and Pastor Mangold did something for me that my own Father did not do, which was to Co-Sign a loan to me to purchase my Fiancé's engagement ring, which was no small act of Trust in me, as I had served and learned from Pastor Mangold that "It is better to Obey, then to Sacrifice". From that one comment, my life became one huge Blessing & they keep coming. I was taught that with daily prayer and the reading of God's Word, I could go through any Storm unscathed, because by living this way, God raises you up above the Storm Clouds of life & this is how I have lived my 42 years since that time. I have the 3 Best Children & the most caring Wife possible & a Great Church Family! The Apostolic Lighthouse is my Home away from Home and is a Church where Truth is taught and it is Sharper then a 2 edged Sword, which is why the Bible talks about where the Seeds fall that are sowed. Spiritually, my Seed landed by the River of Living Water, in very fertile soil, but to those who may give my Church a 1 Star Rating is simply because to them, "to disobey was better, the Word cuts deeply, then came the sacrifice", which then creates Hatred. Pastor Allen Cosner & his wife Shanna have done so much to renew my Church to address today's Generation w/out Sacrificing Truth! God Bless You! read more
