Historical Background by Pastor Mark Garver

A little over 13 years ago the Holy Spirit supernaturally spoke to me and directed me to come to Huntsville, AL and start a church. The name Cornerstone Word of Life came from 2 scriptures the Lord gave me: Ephesians 2:20, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone…;” and Philippians 2:16, “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.”

At the time that God spoke to me, I was an unmarried, itinerant minister in Illinois. I couldn’t imagine why God would send me, a Yankee, to the South where I knew no one and how I could possibly start a church unmarried, with almost no money and no financial backing. But in obedience to the Holy Spirit, I set out on this faith adventure and moved to Alabama. I arrived with two friends, their two-year old son, a car that barely ran, $900 in cash, and the vision God gave me burning in my heart. Little did I know what faith adventures lie ahead.

Now, 13 years later, I stand in amazement as I look back and see what God has done. So many lives He has touched. So many bodies He has healed. So many souls He has saved. So many people changed by the power of God. I am in awe of Him and what He has done.

We have grown from our initial congregation of four to a thriving church body, which continues to grow stronger every week, both numerically and spiritually. We help support missionaries in many nations around the world. We have raised up ministers who have gone from here and planted new churches; one in the U.S. and one in the Philippines. We have 4 young people in Bible School now, training for the ministry. We are in our 11th year of our Bible Institute and have graduated nearly 200 people with a current student body of 105. We went from a staff of one—me, earning $50.00 a month to 6 full-time, and 3 part-time staff members.

Personally, God has added to me a wonderful wife, Rhonda and a precious 9-year old daughter, Destiny. How very blessed I am.

Despite all the marvelous blessings over the last 13 years, I know in my heart our best days are still ahead. The vision God gave for this church remains the same today, as it was when we started in 1993. We will continue to be a church that teaches people to walk in faith and victory in every part of their life: spirit, soul and body. We are taking the gospel to a lost and hurting world both here in the Tennessee Valley and around the world. We are raising up a generation from infants to adults to know Him and to make Him known.

What was born in the Spirit will be not be completed in the flesh, but in the supernatural power of the Holy Ghost. God has such a purpose for raising up this body of believers. One thing I know, He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil 1:6)

Great days are ahead. The faith adventure continues…

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