|
In February of 1964, an Assemblies of God church began in the quaint borough of Ambler in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Due to several mitigating circumstances, the church was closed in August of 1991. Even in this loss, God was still working and something wonderful was destined to happen.
In the summer of 1990, God began an awakening in the heart of Pastor Ron M. Billings, who was pastoring a thriving church outside of Tulsa, OK, about planting a church in the Philadelphia area. After much studying and praying, Pastor Billings made contact with the Assemblies of God denominational church leaders who, in turn, invited him to consider the Ambler area. In February or 1993, Pastor Billings toured the area with Pastor George Cunard and immediately liked what he saw – an area with a great need for a Pentecostal/Charismatic witness. As the doors of opportunity began to open rapidly, the Billings family stepped out in faith and moved to Horsham, Pennsylvania in January 1994. Prior to their arrival, no one single family had committed to join their efforts. All they had was a promise form God that they would succeed. Psalms 118 23 became a special Bible verse for the new church-planting project: "This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our sight." Horsham Christian Fellowship held it’s first meeting in the Billing’s home February 1994, the exact month that the church in Ambler was started thirty years earlier. The work of Jesus was destined to continue in a new and powerful way.
On June 12, 1994, Horsham Christian Fellowship went public after two months of telemarketing and follow-up. It held its first worship service at Joseph’s Catering at 901 Horsham Road. The church became an autonomous Assemblies of God congregation in August 1998.
Four and one half years the church met at Joseph’s Catering until moving into the Abington United Methodist Church location at Edge Hill Road and Ferndale Avenue. The new name, Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, was appropriate in many ways. The congregation had often been disappointed and rejected in finding a place of their own (cp. Psalm 118:22), but found rest in the provision of the Lord. The church aspires to be an active Christian witness in the suburbs of Northern Philadelphia.
In the Spring of 2005, Pastor Ron and his wife Sherry, heard the voice of God leading them to pastor another church in West Plains, Missouri. They left in May of that year. This opened up a new chapter in Cornerstone’s story.
As the church began to seek God for His new direction during this transition in leadership, a minister from a large, growing church in New Jersey, Pastor Jason Tourville, was invited to assume the position of Senior Pastor. Along with his wife Rene’ and their four children, they continue to serve the church and community, by impacting the families in the Northern Philadelphia suburbs with the Life and message of Jesus Christ.
|