The Pastor

Pastor Steve Sumner was saved in Great Falls, Montana at the 1st Church of the Nazarene,  Pastor Doug Halsted. 

I was serving in the United States Air Force; a series of events convicted me to seek out a Church and God.  I went to a Nazarene Church, and the message on that first Sunday was just for me.  I went home under conviction; not just needing salvation but I wanted to surrender myself to God.  I struggled into the night because I knew my desire did not match my strength to succeed.  In other words, I was afraid of making a commitment that I could not live up to.  It was then the Lord helped my infirmities bringing to mind what little scriptural knowledge I had, to point out that it was Jesus Christ that was able; at that I called upon the Name of the Lord to save me and help me to live for him in every way.  Jesus Christ performed a miracle in me that night, he answered both prayers.  Praise His Holy and Wonderful Name!  Since I had spent my time off work seeking the Lord it was then time to go back to work that morning.  I couldn't hide the change.  It was at least evident in-that my filthy smoking habit was gone.  I had actually become a new man.  God had given me the strength and delivered me from many bad habits.  I was amazed that I could actually live the way I knew was right.  Salvation had liberated me from sin!  I was sure glad to be saved and wanted everyone else to have what I had.  

I felt a call right away to pursue a life for the Lord Jesus Christ, as He would lead.  It didn't take long and I ran into a homeless man that led to an opportunity to preach in a rescue mission.  As time went on, I received a Local Ministerial License and a small title of "Outreach Minister."  After I led my first person to the Lord, I couldn't get enough!  The Church I was in paid my way to Calgary, Canada where I was afforded the opportunity to meet and learn from, world famous author and speaker, John Maxwell on just how to be effective for God.  So when I rub people the wrong way it's not because I haven't been taught how to make friends and influence people.  (Highly effective tactics used by salesmen to get what they want.)   

Having come to the close of a good Military career I went off to Colorado Springs to attend the Nazarene Bible College.  I was well trained and experienced in soul winning and outreach in a church by this point, and was ready to fulfill the Nazarene requirements for the Pastorate.  Before arriving at Bible College I had realized that there was a verse missing in my (NIV Bible) it was Acts 8:37.  I didn't even own a King James Bible at the time.  The Bookstore owner who sold me my first Bible suggested that I get an "easy to read" bible.  That made a lot of sense to me at the time.  Have you ever been lied to?  Does it set well with you?  A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; Pro 17:4.  All I wanted to know was why did my "easy to read" bible have verses missing.  The thing wasn't even re-numbered; plainly showing the verse was accounted for somewhere.   My "thought for thought" translation left out a good thought!  Not to mention the answer to a question.  I began to search and read everything I could find and there was not much.  No, there was no internet at this time.  No, I was not Baptist nor did I want to be.  No, I did not know Dr. Ruckman.  In fact, I was completely alone without help except the Holy Spirit, my trusted teacher and comforter.  My church, at the time, loaded me up with everything they had to offer on the subject, everything the Christian bookstore had, and I even watched videos published by the Nazarenes featuring Ralph Earl, the Nazarene that sat on the NIV translating committee.  One lie had now become hundreds and I didn't know what to believe. 

It is amazing how if you pray for the truth God gets it to you.  Seemingly out of no where, in the middle of the wilderness of Montana, God brought me works by men I had never heard of that gave scriptural, sound biblical answers that I was looking for, and not a bunch of contradicting rhetoric.   So, I left for Bible College with a knowledge of Dr. Estep, Dr. Ruckman, and Gail Riplinger.  No!  Bookstores do not carry their material, it would ruin their racket. 

Having arrived at Colorado Springs, Colorado, I worked for Wells Fargo until I was given a custodian position at Eastborough Church of the Nazarene, that included a house and perfect schedule for school and my wife, at the time, was the church secretary.  John Maxwell's stuff does work!

I then became an adult Sunday School teacher for the "NBC" Students and spouses at Eastborough Church of the Nazarene, Pastor Zell Woodworth, said to still be the pastor to Dr. James Dobson, Focus on the Family.    Life was great, I was 25 years old, saved and on my way to serving the Lord.  The opportunities seemed unlimited, blessings, upon blessings.  My only concern at the time was a new child that wasn't developing on schedule and I knew that something wasn't right. 

However, Bible College was a joke; there is really no other way to describe it.  

I quickly learned that just because it was called a Bible College meant nothing when it came to the actual Bible.  I was taught that the NT was not inspired in the originals; the Red Sea was a terrible mistake in the King James Bible, that Moses really just tromped through the marshy "reads" going the way God said not to.  Other denominations were lied about; the worst being Baptists who were all labeled Calvinists, which couldn't be farther from the truth.  They would question the existence of a real Devil.  Catholicism was not portrayed for the evil that it is and the spiritual formation courses was kin to the New Age movement.  The King James Bible was said to be in desperate need of revision because it was the most untrustworthy translation, and was misleading people.  Needless to say, I was not learning the Bible.  I was being taught to disbelieve it.  They loved any critical biblical thinking like it was the epitome of learning, so long as you didn't criticize them or their idols.  My first professor, Neil Wiseman, said to a student who gave a bible verse in regards to the discussion at hand, "let's not bring the bible into it"  However, 25 students were encouraged to bring anything else to the table.  What a way to start Bible college.  Needless to say that was about it, "don't bring the bible into it." By this time I was growing every day as a believer in the King James Bible for a few simple but obvious reasons: 

1. Anyone I met that used the King James Bible was twice as spiritual and could quote scripture not concepts.
2. It was the only bible that the professors and students could cut down.
3. My research always revealed that the stuff I was being taught was not true.  Such as King James being a homosexual or if I had an original King James Bible that I wouldn't be able to read it, and on and on.
4. The Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth of the KJV!     

Having spent much time in research, debate, and council I finally sought the Lord more fervently.  He was much too gracious and plain in the verses and lessons he taught me about that perfect word, the King James Bible.  However, I had to answer two questions.  First, if the King James Bible was the word of God for me in my language where did that leave the NIV that I had been so faithful to? and second, what about all the "godly" men that I knew; how could they ALL be wrong?  Judging these things can be very difficult at first.  The Bible says: 

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 1Co 6:2-3  

Liberty (the truth shall set you free) did not come until I acted like a real Christian and judged this evil for what it was, and the cost was steep!  

I can still remember that great day when I kicked my fake NIV bible out the back door much like a soccer ball to find its way in the garbage which it is.  Any book that removes the name of Lucifer and substitutes the title of Jesus Christ is garbage, and it doesn't matter what anyone thinks about it.  Isa 14:12 Check it in your version today.  Revival will never come to the Church under the polluted bibles that worship another Jesus.  

Time went on, and I left school based on Pro 24:21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

I had now grown stronger in my faith defending the Bible; having dedicated more than 5 years to research that led me to others.  I thank God for the faithful men and women, Dr. Gregg Estep, Dr. Sam Gipp, Dr. Peter Ruckman, Gail Riplinger, and the Holy Spirit, who stayed faithful to help others despite the attacks and trouble.   By the time I left the Nazarene Church and Bible College, I knew there were at least a few people other than myself that cared about God's word, even though I did not know them personally.  Boy! Was I amazed to find out there is an army out there that has not bowed the knee to this Demonic led apostasy.  Praise the Lord!  

I soon found that Independent Baptist Churches were the only place by-in-large that were using the King James Bible with any conviction.  Other than those associated with Bob Jones University which only put up a big front (Façade) about it.  Having left my Church, burned my ministerial license, went through marital problems, I turned from the ministry and started a Christian bookstore to be a help to the Independent Baptist Churches defending the King James Bible.  This is where I got one of my biggest lessons in life.  The liars were everywhere!  The preachers using the King James were lying about it too.   Just when I thought I had found righteousness in the world, it was phony.  I soon found out that this man Dr. Peter Ruckman was absolutely right and honest and was the fear of all pastors in disguise.  The pastors would not encourage folks to support a good fundamental bookstore because it had Ruckman material in it.  What fakers! what liars! they would soon be found out!  God had raised me up to flush them out.   

I was still Nazarene in my doctrine and began to lose my (sinless perfection) bit by bit with no hope of ever getting it back, (so I thought) see Hebrews 6:4.  It seemed as if God had allowed me to see the truth and then allowed it to become the vehicle that broke me in more ways than one.  At this point I had no hope in anything and put my Bible away.  I took the most regretful detour of my life and accepted the fact that I would have to go to Hell and walked away from everything.  (What a pitiful, hopeless, unbiblical doctrine.) 

A few years went by and I tried to just fit in at work which would never happen as the Spirit in me never let me rest.  I led my new wife to the Lord before we were married.  I attempted to break the engagement because she now had a new life in Christ and I was not a suitable mate.  I helped her get established and Baptized in a Baptist Church, they used the King James but the pastor didn't know enough about it to blow his nose.  It was wonderful to be back in church although I was beginning to question my own doctrines.  It was at this church (If you would call it that) I was reassured, by the pastor, that God was done with me because I had gone through a divorce.  What a wonderful blessing that was to hear!  At this particular church (an Independent Baptist Bob Jones affiliated, King James fake, and divorce demented place) I was not allowed to clean the toilets because that would have been church work.  Tithing was all that was allowed, oh um!  That pastor would not marry my wife and I, but encouraged us to go to a judge.  Strange isn't it?  If we were sinning getting married and he wouldn't perform the marriage, why did he underhandedly encourage it?  And then wanted us as members while we were supposedly living in sin.  Sanity is a hard thing to find these days.  When a person messes with God's word, God will mess with their mind!  That Pastor is no longer in the ministry!  It was after I saw this pastor turn his pulpit over to a woman for a speaking opportunity that the Lord seemed to be asking me about consistency and why I was taking this guy serious.  It was at this point that I decided to look into these doctrines sincerely; things like losing your salvation, divorce and remarriage and other issues.  The verse that this silly pastor was holding over my head on working in the church was a verse about priests in the Old Testament.  However, he left out a few verses, a common mistake when people draw and shoot from the hip.  Look here what he left out: 

Lev 21:17  . . . Whosoever. . . hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.

Lev 21:18  . . . a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,

Lev 21:19  Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,

Lev 21:20  Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; 

This pastor was kind of on the dwarfy side and had superfluous problems, and did not have children, I won't get into that.    There is a bible verse for every squirrel in the woods; for every nut in the tree.  In studying material on eternal security, I soon realized that the bible must be "rightly divided" something never taught to me in so-called "Bible College" or in the Nazarene Church.  It was a long hard road to re-learn my Bible.  Even though I was only studying now exclusively from the King James Bible, I still had to fight the corruption that takes place in the mind when you have been using multiple versions plus the different languages.  I have to continually correct and dispel all kinds of NIV remains, and I'm talking about things that do affect doctrine!  I finally came to grips with the fact that I was still saved and repented bitterly for not seeing the truth from the start.  I was always ready and willing to debate any Baptist on this issue and was fully persuaded that I was right.  If it hadn't been for the Holy Spirit bearing witness to me that I was still saved during this time period I would never have given it a second thought.  One of the amazing things that continued to happen is that God would bring people my way for me to lead to Him.  I would like to apologize to anyone I ever mislead about this most precious and fundamental doctrine of the Gift of salvation and NO!  YOU CANNOT LOSE IT!  The Nazarenes and I was wrong!  

Realizing scripturally that I was still saved was like getting saved all over again.  In searching the scriptures I also came across a verse in regards to one's call in which the Bible declares that "the gifts and calling of God are without repentance."  I briefly pondered the possibility that I was still called to preach.  I had now been saved for over 10 years and felt like I was just getting started.   Getting back into church and my Bible with a new family was difficult at first.  Some things were more difficult than I could begin to explain.  There were a lot of troubles in my first marriage that I will forgo at this point just suffice it to say, I never wanted to go through that again!  (I do accept all the blame!)  (Don't forget this all took place while trying to live under a false doctrine of being sinless and perfect.)  Trouble in the home is always typical where someone is trying to do God's will or even just live right.  Therefore, at the first sign of trouble, as promised in Gods word 1 Cor 7:28, with my new wife in getting restarted brought unwanted memories of some of life's most difficult issues and defeats, these things came with a fear of reliving the past.  So getting too close to the ministry was not something I sought after.  A real calling will make you or break you.  It is far too easy to find a preaching opportunity to scratch the itch and stay away from the fire.  I learned the hard way that God is too big to go around, all my excuses, all my alternative ideas; didn't change God's mind about the fire he had to take me through to finish what He started in my life.  The last thing I wanted was to be a full time Pastor.  I think I would have run forever if it hadn't have been for a literal house fire where God got my attention real good.  I finally sat still and let the Lord make the adjustments that were needed.  Sometimes it feels like you can't make it through but God is always there.  My family loves the Lord and God is using us in untold ways to help others.  God has NEVER been responsible for my sins and mistakes in life but he has never set me aside either.  Merciful is the Lord and greatly to be Praised. 

What about Lighthouse Baptist Church?  Well let me say that God hath wrought a great work with a bunch of broken pieces! 

Gary Sharret was the first Pastor then known as Antioch Baptist Church.  The Church was started in Steve Sumner's home in August 2004, and became known as Lighthouse Baptist Church in December 2004 with Steve Sumner as the Pastor. 

My worst critics, who hate the fact that I am remarried and God is doing something with me, especially exposing false teachers, and doctrines of devils, accuse me of unlimited nonsense, such as:  Starting a cult, splitting churches, being the devils man, holding up the Bible and not living by it.  My favorite was that I started the church because no one else would listen to me.  It's all meant to be hurtful but is really more amusing.  I have watched God take such good care of me, none of it matters at all.  When I left the Nazarene Church I was all alone and at peace with all the slanderous rhetoric that goes with taking a stand; I didn't need a partner then and I don't need a partner now.  I am prepared to stand, me and the word of God.

At Lighthouse Baptist Church you will find a pastor that is a sinner saved by grace.  You will find church members that are sinners saved by grace.  You will find the rich and poor, fat and thin, pretty and ugly, black and white, dumb and smart, young and old; our common bond is Jesus Christ, and if you are looking for something perfect we will give you a copy of it and show you how to read it, defend it, trust it, and live by it; the word of God. 

I spent 10 years on the Anderson Fire Department.  In what would be one of my last fires to fight, God had something to say.  After the flames had been subdued and the smoke allowed to clear and the bodies of the deceased had been removed, in the midst of the ashes and water soaked contents was a King James Bible amazingly unburned and opened as I looked down through the dirt on my breathing mask, the world seemed to stop for a moment as I read the following words glaring up at me: 

I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

I've long since submitted to the fact that I am a "B" player called off the bench because the "A" players are giving the game away.  And I am willing to watch all my works go up in smoke at the Judgment seat of Christ for not being qualified (which I am) But I am not willing to sit by and watch as these lying dogs make a mockery of God's word putting it to an open shame.  I have been on a lot of sides and made a lot of mistakes in my life; but I've saved the best one for last!

There is a wickedness running rampant these days incubated in so called Christian Colleges and Universities.  It is destroying the bible believing pastors!  

Thanks for reading this and I hope it encourages you to trust your Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ who will judge the quick and the dead!

 Pastor Steve Sumner