Our church history stretches back to the early 1980's when a group at the Vineland C&MA Church began to pray that a new Alliance church in the Cape May area would come into being. Their new pastor began a Bible Study in our area composed of several believers. Many of those attending were part of a group which left a local church. It was decided to form an independent church which would be a "light" to Cape May County.
They named the church The Lighthouse Evangelical Church.
In 1990, the group approached the Alliance about being the core for a new C&MA work. After discussions with the District Superintendent, the Alliance committed $50,000.00 and a pastor to plant the new church. An Advisory Committee was formed and the first pastor was appointed. In October of 1990, The Lighthouse Church of the C&MA began with Tom Brunner as pastor.
Easter of 1991 saw the church move from the Herald Newspaper Building to Rick's Theater in Rio Grande to better accomodate the growing numbers. In November 1994, the charter members were received, a Board was elected and The Lighthouse Church became an officially organized C&MA church. At that time services moved to the new Middle Township Elementary #2 in Cape May Court House, NJ.
Pastor Tom Brunner followed God's call to another C&MA work in the fall of 1996. In the summer of 1997, Pastor Rudy Sheptock arrived from Christ Community Church in Omaha, NE to be TLC's second pastor.
Since it's beginning, God has allowed our church to grow both deep and wide. The Lord has added many wonderful and gifted people, new full time staff, exciting and various ministries, more services and all with the vision to take the treasure to Cape May County and beyond. On January 10th, 2010 we celebrated our first service in
our new church building!.
Even though we have a rich past, Pastor Rudy always says that the best days are still to come. This is the most exciting time to be a part of what God is doing at The Lighthouse Church!
