Our Beginning.....

The first service of the congregation of Lighthouse UPC was May 28, 1978. Prior to this date 78 people had been seeking God for His direction with much prayer and fasting. They purchased the church building at 250 Chester Levee Road and called it Southside Pentecostal Church. Rev. W. A. Singleton was their spiritual leader. From the beginning, the growth has been phenomenal, with new people coming continually. Miracles of material and spiritual blessings were happening.

God moved all the way to Europe to bring home a missionary, Rev. Hulon Myre, to be our first pastor. He was elected pastor January 29, 1979. So much was happening and the thrill of it all seemed to overwhelm everyone. Our attendance grew beyond expectations. In less than two years, we reached a record attendance of 181 from the mere 78.

We realized we had to provide more room so God could do His work. Land was purchased and material bought to build but God had other plans. We did not have time to waste building a church. The congregation bought the building at 402 E. Layfayette in downtown Jackson and paid for it in one offering! The first service there was May 11, 1980. The name was changed to Lighthouse UPC. The congregation continued to grow. We enjoyed the great space in that auditorium.

Downtown Church

Marker to Commemorate Downtown Church

Rev. Hulon Myre preached his last sermon as pastor and resigned March 17, 1985. Rev. Wayne Chester served as interim-pastor and served faithfully until October 1985.

Bro. Chester heard about a young preacher in Knoxville, Iowa who was thinking of a change. He was unknown to the District and the Church but he was called and came on September 5, 1985 to preach. On September 29th, he came back and brought his wife. God was moving to bring a people and a man together. On October 6, 1985, Rev. Ronald L. Brown was elected pastor. Under Bro. Brown's leadership there has been a steady growth. Attendance records were set in Sunday School. Mission giving increased.

God began to move on Bro. Brown. He came to Jackson with a vision, not to remain in an old building with little parking area. Land was purchased on Old Humboldt Road and paid for immediately. In 1991, construction began on the Activity Building. Bro. Brown's vision was taking shape. The Activity Building was not even complete when construction began on the new sanctuary.

The old building on Lafayette was sold and the church began to soar with the vision! The Victory Goal was reached. We began to worship in the Activity Building on January 6, 1993. In Februrary we had the first service in the new sanctuary with nice padded pews and carpeted floors. It was not finished but we were in a building no one else had used! Happiness, joy, praise, wonder; there was not a way to describe the feeling.

Current Church facilities at 333 Old Humboldt Road

No mention has been made of the spiritual growth of this congregation during these years, but for sure, Bro Brown has not let the physical work take priority over the spiritual. Already souls had been filled with the Holy Ghost in this new building. It was dedicated in a beautiful service with Rev. C. M. Becton and Rev. L. H. Benson on May 30, 1993.

We have since built a nice pavilon and did improvements to the grounds including a lovely front sign. We have purchased a 29 passenger bus and recently purchased a passenger van.

Not only improvements to the physical but much has been done in a spiritual way. Outreach has grown, two nursing home facilities are now reached and other things are added frequently. All this as God has added new workers to our midst.

In 2005, Bro. Brown resigned to become the superindendent of the Tennessee District UPC. Bro. Donald Lance became our new pastor.

Through it all and in all things we give God the glory for His bontiful blessings to this wonderful congregation and we give honor to all our former pastors and our pastor, Rev. Donald Lance.

The Lighthouse is truly 'touching' our world! Bus ministry, nursing home meetings, visitation, Bible studies, Singles and Youth activities are reaching out to Jackson. We are also blessed with a strong Foreign Missions giving church with many missionaries serving on Foreign fields who have close family members in our church.

We give thanks to all the fine ministries and saints who have gone on before us. We owe a debt of gratitude to each one of them. It's truly "Hats off to the past and coats off to the future!"