How it all started...
God is Able! July of 1997 found Pastor Spencer and his family traveling to Holland, MI to explore the possibility of starting a new church; several other pastors had been propositioned to this task but all rejected the offer.
After a weekend of preaching, city orientation and 2 weeks of prayer the Spencer’s were met with a decision to return to Holland and begin what would then be called Landmark Baptist Church. In August of 1997 Pastor Spencer moved to Holland; his family had to remain behind in Morrisonville IL until a home could be secured. With no established church, secured salary, or personal finances God moved in the heart of a local banker to loan Pastor Spencer nearly $70,000 toward the purchase of a home. The Spencer’s reside in this home to this day. That was just the first of many miracles that would grace this work.
The inaugural service for LBC was held in a living room; a Lazy-Boy recliner was the pulpit, a love seat and fireplace hearth served as pews and eight persons comprised the congregation. The church soon began holding services in a basement. The congregation was asked to bring their own lawn chairs. Due to the many different colors LBC was affectionately titled, “The Rainbow Cathedral.”
In the fall of 1997 Landmark Baptist Church was able secure their first building; located at 201 W. 29th Street. The “new” facility was a 30’x80′ warehouse with no air conditioning or hot water! Excited at this opportunity we quickly painted the inside and secured eight 100 year old pews. We then erected some office panels to serve as a Pastor’s office, others as a nursery, we were able to construct a baptistery out of a waterbed mattress and wooden posts.These elements helped to endear this location to our hearts and we christened her the “Concrete Cathedral.”
The following spring of 1998, we relocated to what would become our home for the next 7 years. Owned by Alcoholics Anonymous, we were able to secure half of their building and construct it in such a manner that we had 5 classrooms, a fellowship hall, nursery, and an auditorium that would seat nearly 100 people. Proving once again God is Able!
Our present location was purchased in November 2001 with the sight development beginning on August 3, 2004. Through much sacrifice of time, money and materials the new facility of Lighthouse Baptist Church (we changed the name when we began to press toward our new location) budded, blossomed, and grew from what had been a potato shed, hog barn, watering pond, and pasture.
July 31, 2005 was our first service here and was preached by Evangelist Joe Mark. What an experience this Holland venture has been. Our ministry is far larger than we as a church body can care for but our God has proved faithful time and again! He alone is the encouragement of this small group of believers.
Now that you have visited our web site, please plan on dropping in and joining us for service-you will be glad you did!
His Servant and Yours,
PASTOR BART W. SPENCER
After a weekend of preaching, city orientation and 2 weeks of prayer the Spencer’s were met with a decision to return to Holland and begin what would then be called Landmark Baptist Church. In August of 1997 Pastor Spencer moved to Holland; his family had to remain behind in Morrisonville IL until a home could be secured. With no established church, secured salary, or personal finances God moved in the heart of a local banker to loan Pastor Spencer nearly $70,000 toward the purchase of a home. The Spencer’s reside in this home to this day. That was just the first of many miracles that would grace this work.
The inaugural service for LBC was held in a living room; a Lazy-Boy recliner was the pulpit, a love seat and fireplace hearth served as pews and eight persons comprised the congregation. The church soon began holding services in a basement. The congregation was asked to bring their own lawn chairs. Due to the many different colors LBC was affectionately titled, “The Rainbow Cathedral.”
In the fall of 1997 Landmark Baptist Church was able secure their first building; located at 201 W. 29th Street. The “new” facility was a 30’x80′ warehouse with no air conditioning or hot water! Excited at this opportunity we quickly painted the inside and secured eight 100 year old pews. We then erected some office panels to serve as a Pastor’s office, others as a nursery, we were able to construct a baptistery out of a waterbed mattress and wooden posts.These elements helped to endear this location to our hearts and we christened her the “Concrete Cathedral.”
The following spring of 1998, we relocated to what would become our home for the next 7 years. Owned by Alcoholics Anonymous, we were able to secure half of their building and construct it in such a manner that we had 5 classrooms, a fellowship hall, nursery, and an auditorium that would seat nearly 100 people. Proving once again God is Able!
Our present location was purchased in November 2001 with the sight development beginning on August 3, 2004. Through much sacrifice of time, money and materials the new facility of Lighthouse Baptist Church (we changed the name when we began to press toward our new location) budded, blossomed, and grew from what had been a potato shed, hog barn, watering pond, and pasture.
July 31, 2005 was our first service here and was preached by Evangelist Joe Mark. What an experience this Holland venture has been. Our ministry is far larger than we as a church body can care for but our God has proved faithful time and again! He alone is the encouragement of this small group of believers.
Now that you have visited our web site, please plan on dropping in and joining us for service-you will be glad you did!
His Servant and Yours,
PASTOR BART W. SPENCER
The Spencer Family, 2021
