Cornerstone Word of Life is proud to send out our very first full-time missionaries to a foreign land. The have been faithful to put their hands to what was set before them and God has promoted them. Proverbs 28:20 states, "A faithful man shall abound to blessings…" and that is truly the case regarding the Laniers.

Mark is a 1988 graduate of the University of Memphis with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. He is also a 1997 graduate of RHEMA Bible Training Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mark volunteered in the Prison and Nursing Home outreaches and worked on staff here at the church for three years as Pastor’s Assistant.

Verna studied Political Science at the Pamantasan NG Makati University in Manila Philippines and graduated in 1997. She also is a 2000 graduate of DOMATA Philippines, a minister’s training school that trains nationals how to reach their own people for Christ. She assisted in the school with praise and worship and also led worship for her home church, Jesus King of Kings Christian Fellowship. Verna has also assisted and led worship at CWOL for the time that she has been here. She started in music ministry when she was 16 years old.

How we got to Manila:
Mark and Verna’s paths crossed when Mark went as a team member on a CWOL mission trip to the Philippines in December of 1999. He says he was just doing what was in him to do, the will of God and in doing so he found his wife. They married in February 2001. Now, they have two children, Jillian Faith and David Nathaniel.

On how this new adventure began, Mark recalls, "I walked by the bulletin board in the hallway one day, shortly after Verna and I were married, and heard these words coming out of my mouth, I’ll be there (in the Philippines) someday to live. There was so much unction on that statement at the time. I just hid it away in my heart. Another time, we had a guest minister here, Jeff Schroeder, and I remember the Lord dealing with me about something and I didn’t know what it was, so I didn’t want to yield to Him on it. I yielded in my heart and said yes to whatever it was and realized later it had to do with moving to the Philippines. Then I felt something like a coat on me for this new move and an urgency to start doing it. I had always told Pastors Mark & Rhonda that God would tell the ahead of time when it was time for changes for me and He did. That confirmed what I already had in my heart. I believe it is the perfect timing for us."

Our Vision:
It came to us one day during a service that we are not here to build a church, but rather help people. We desire to teach and train people in the things of God. Teaching them the things that have really helped us and blessed us. But most importantly, is to have a place where the Spirit of God dwells. We want to have a place where people can come in contact with the Living God. I never envisioned building this ministry on Mark and Verna, but on our Risen Savior alone. We are not out to make a name for ourselves, but to make Him known. We want to have a place where revival is just a natural thing. In other words: God is in the House.

If you would like to contact Mark & Verna, you can email them at mlanier911@aol.com. If you would like to support the work in Manila, for a tax deductible receipt you can make your checks payable to: Cornerstone Word of Life Church, 132 Maple St., Madison, AL 35758. Please write "Lanier" in memo line of your check.

Visit us at www.cwol-manila.org

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