Pastor Baker asked me if I could fix the baptistry, because the heater had gone out. I started thinking that if I could do something good for the church, then maybe in some way God would put me on a path other than the one that I had been traveling. I came later that day and started to work on the unit and fixed it in a couple of hours. I remember when I finished, Pastor Baker asked how much did the church owe me. I told him, "Oh, can you pray for me." When Pastor Baker said he would, I told him we would call it even. He had no idea how many problems I had. A couple weeks later, I sat in pastor's office, and he took me through the plan of salvation in the Bible, and I accepted Jesus into my heart as my only way to Heaven. Immediately, there was a great relief that had swelled up in me.

In the next few weeks, there was within me a calling to come to church, and with a little encouraging, I started to attend. The more I came, the more I recognized that my life was changing and what had really been missing in my life was God. My perspective began to change on what was really important in life.

There are many people going through life searching for answers to problems that are found in one book. The Bible is in every library, hotel, motel, church, and in most every home, but it is often the one thing we overlook of fail to look to in times of trouble or problems. We see the problems but never see the solutions. We imagine all kinds of things that can not solve the problems, but they come up empty, and we usually end up farther down than where we started. Einstein once stated that problems cannot be solved at the same level of thinking as they were when they were created. They must be solved at a higher level. It is amazing that the answer to all problems are in the King James Bible, and all we need is someone to point us to those answers.

I will close and say, I am embryonic in God's word, but at least I am growing. I once stated to the assistant pastor, Bro. Nash, that my mother planted the spiritual seeds in me as a young child, but Lighthouse Baptist Church watered those seeds in order for me to grow spiritually.

Now, if Pastor Baker asked me how much does the church of me for the plumbing work, my answer would be to pray for me, and how much do I owe God and the church for my salvation? That answer is simple, my life! Jesus Christ saved me, but the Lighthouse Baptist Church pointed me to the Light of the World so I could be saved. If you need some help and direction, I know they (God and the church) could help you also.

Even then, I could see the miraculous workings of God in my life to lead and direct me during such a dark and difficult time. A co-worker of my sister's told her to tell me of a new church that was being started by a Hyles-Anderson College graduate, which was where she thought I had gone to school. We had graduated from another school, but had admired and listened to Dr. Hyles for years. One day, after a very difficult morning at my temporary job, I went home for lunch to pray and beg God for help for my family; I just didn't feel like I could make it another day. Within five minutes of getting up from praying, the telephone rang. I answered the phone and Dave Baker, the pastor of this new church, was on the other line inviting me to come to the services. I attended the next service, which was on a Wednesday night, and have been here ever since. God knew exactly what I needed to get through such a rough period in my life.

I look back at that time of my life and see how sick, depressed, lonely, hopeless, and helpless that I was. Even though Pastor Baker and his wife were almost young enough to be my children, I thank God for leading me to a pastor and wife that cared about me, prayed for me, encouraged me, and made me have hope for a future. Because of them, I discovered that there is life after divorce and God still has a plan for our life, if we will just trust Him and put Him first. I have been the church secretary at Lighthouse Baptist Church now for over seven years. Space does not permit me to tell of all the blessings and answers to prayer that I've had since I've come here. It has not always been an easy road, but I know I would have never come this far without God, Pastor Baker, and Lighthouse Baptist Church.

If you are going through a divorce or a difficult time in your life, don't let Satan fool you into thinking that you need whatever the world has to offer. That's a lie and it won't work! There is no life outside of Christ, and He will meet every need that you have, if you will just stay faithful to Him. I know a great place and a great group of people that will help you to do that - Lighthouse Baptist Church! Come visit on March 11th for our eight-year anniversary and Open House.

Then I found a place.......no, they found me.........and accepted me, no matter what I was or had done. This place was a place that loved and cared about me. At this place, I was not only accepted, but felt the love of God like never before. When I first met someone from Lighthouse, I really wasn't interested in church or in God. When I heard the pastor show my brother from the Bible how to go to Heaven, I was curious, and wanted to hear what he had to say. When I heard that Jesus would accept me just the way I was, and that He paid for my sins on the cross, I accepted Jesus Christ to be my Savior. I think all the time about where my life would be if it were not for the Lord, and for the Lighthouse Baptist Church. I look at where my friends are, and probably, that is where I would be. The last time I saw one of my good friends, he was hiding from the police. My brother, who wouldn't allow the church or the Lord to influence him is in prison and has been there for years. He is getting out soon, and doing better. I am so glad God gives us second chances.

Because of the direction of my life then, I believe I would be dead and be in Hell today if it were not for Lighthouse Baptist Church. If not that extreme, I'd probably be running from authorities, doing drugs or in a prison somewhere away from the Lord and away from right. I thank God for a godly, life-changing church, and a pastor that I can call a true friend.

God has been so good to me. He has allowed me to graduate from a Christian High School, go to Bible college, and date Courtney Blackburn, the best Christian lady in the world. In high school, when I needed a place to live, my pastor and his family allowed me to live with them until I went away to Bible college. Now I get to live for the Lord, and show others God's love, acceptance and salvation.

Through the years, I have heard people criticize our church and our pastor. Sometimes it makes me upset, but I then realize that they just don't know them like I know them. I have been in the church since the church was four months old, and have lived with the pastor and his family for over five years. The whole time I have known them, they have pointed me to Jesus and have helped change me from a rebellious, punk twelve-year-old, to a young man that loves God and loves my family. For me, I think the song sums it up when it says, "I thank God for the lighthouse…..if it wasn't for the lighthouse, where would this ship be?" I thank God for the Lighthouse Baptist Church, which has continually pointed me to the true Light, Who is Jesus Christ.

Up until then, we thought we were living a pretty good Christian life, but through the help of the Pastor, and the Sunday school leaders of the church, we began to learn the truth of God's Word from the King James Bible. The Lord soon convicted us that we were not living as good of a Christian life as we were playing one. We have made many changes and decisions in our life, and it has been exciting serving God again.

Dan and I have gone through many problems over the last eighteen months, from Dan receiving a brain injury, to our losing our home, and my being hospitalized more times than I can count. Through it all, God has allowed us to watch Him perform one miracle after another in our lives. I do not know how we would have made if it had not been for the church. Not only have we heard sermons on serving God and doing more for Him, we have heard so much of how to life by faith, and how to trust God and His Word. We have heard the pastor preach that God wants to take our problems and use them for good, and then we have seen God do just that. It has been hard, but we have seen God not only answer prayers, but work several medical and other miracles in our lives.

We are still not the Christians we need to be, but we know we are in the right church. The church has been there to support us, to pray for us, and to help in whatever way possible. More importantly, the church has showed us how we are supposed to live as Christians, and how we are to help and offer support to others.

If you are missing something in your life, or if you are looking for a kind, warm, friendly church that isn't just playing church, let me invite you to come visit us. I can be a witness that this church is definitely trying to shine the light of Christ and truly help people.

One day, my wife was given an invitation to attend an anniversary celebration for Lighthouse Baptist Church. We visited the church and realized this was the thing for which I had been looking. I must be truthful; my life totally changed. I came face to face with the question of, “If I were to die, would I know for sure that I would go to Heaven?” I had gone through three heart surgeries, and nine by-passes, but I didn’t know for sure if I died I would be in Heaven. I tried to help others, obey the commandments, and even went to church. One Sunday, after being at Lighthouse Baptist Church for a few weeks, I went forward during the invitation and made sure I was trusting only Jesus dying on the cross to take me to Heaven. I was baptized there, we became members and have been there ever since. My wife is a registered nurse and is now our church nursery director. We have three boys and she loves the children of our church. We have eleven ladies in our church who are currently expecting and have had over twenty babies born from the families in our church in the last three years. My wife works hard for them to be able to have a clean, new, nice, comfortable place in which to care for their babies. I am an usher, and love to help out in any way I can.

I have learned so much by being at Lighthouse Baptist Church. The preaching and services are real and exciting. Pastor Baker preaches from the King James Bible, helping people with all the important questions of life. The assistant pastor, Bro. Gregg Nash, does an incredible job with the music. He has made eight professional music tapes, and sings every Sunday before the pastor preaches.

I truly am happy with my life now. I know I am going to Heaven when I die and I want everyone to know how easy it is to accept Jesus. God loves us all and wants us to be with Him in Heaven for eternity. Our nine-year anniversary is coming up on March 10th. We are also adding an early service at 8:00 because we are out of room. Why don’t you come visit us on the anniversary Sunday like I did a few years ago? I believe you will be glad you did.